Busca de parasitos em alfaces (Lactuca sativa) comercializadas em supermercados e restaurantes no município de Sinop - Mato Grosso

Abstract

Enteroparasites are a public health issue in Brazil, being one of the main causes of death among individuals contaminated by parasites. In the following study, the parasitologic research in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) samples is justified by the importance of endoparasites on the global stage, given that the in natura consumption of vegetables is becoming more popular and that these raw products are described as human pathogen carriers. The goal of this research was to verify the prevalence of parasites in vegetables sold at supermarket and self-service restaurants in Sinop, MT. 51 lettuce (Lactuca sativa) samples were collected between February and June 2016. The lettuce leaves were cleaned using 600 ml of distilled water, and spontaneous sedimenting was left to happen for 24 hours on the resulting liquid. Triplicate laminates were made to be observed employing an optic microscope. The findings were preserved using a camera, and after visualization, the identified species were compared to ones found in a parasitologic Atlas. The study shows that 27.45% of the samples were infected. The parasitic forms of helminths found in the samples were Diphyllobothrium latum (5.88%), Hymenolepis nana (1.96%), Ancilostomideos (3.92%), Fasciola hepatica (1.96%) and Toxocara canis (1.96%). As for protozoarians, the species found were Entamoeba coli (5.88%) and Entamoeba Histolytica (3.92%). All the identifiable species found are harmful to humans except Entamoeba coli. Out of the 51 samples, 33 were taken from restaurants, and 12 of these (36.4%) were classified as contaminated by some form of parasite. From the remaining 18 analyzed samples, which came from supermarkets, 2 (11.1%) were classified as contaminated. It can be concluded that: it is possible to find parasitic structures of protozoarians and helminths; the Diphyllobotrium latum species has been found, a parasitic species never before mentioned in studies with vegetables; it is suggested that the university restaurant showed greater potential for contamination than the other restaurants and, generally, restaurants show a higher degree of parasitic contamination than supermarkets. This study highlights the importance of preventive measures that must be emphasized to the general population, and suggests that health education must improve in order to diminish the health problems caused by endoparasites.