Immunological and Molecular Investigation of the Level of Parasite Contamination of Some Vegetables Sold in the Local Markets of Ramadi City – Iraq

Abstract

Some vegetables were randomly collected from the local markets of Ramadi city - Anbar province – Iraq .And at 250 gm for each species for a period of 10 months (from 1/2/2019 - 1/12/2019), the vegetables included: Foeniculumvulgarae ، Beta vulgaris ، Lactuca sativa ، Petroseliniumcrispum ، Lepidium sativum ،Brassica oleracea ، Brassica rapa ، Lycopersionesculentum ، Solanumtuberosum ، raphanussativus ، Allium ampeloprasum ، Apiumgraveolens. After washing with distilled water, protozoa and parasitic worms were detected, and several methods were used to detect them, such as the sedimentation method, floatation , pigmentation and cassette method, as well as molecular detection method of the Cyclospora parasite. The results showed that it is Lactuca sativawere most polluted plants by parasites , Followed by Feniculumvulgarae . And by percentage reached(21.45631 and 20.57971%) respectively , while the least polluted plants with parasites were Petroselinium crispum and Solanum tuberosum (9.699321, 9.796314%), respectively. The results also showed that the most prevalent parasitic protozoa species was Giardia lambelia cyst, with a percentage of 21.94915% and with significant differences from the rest of the other parasitic species at the probability level P≥0.05, It is followed by Entamoeba histolytica cyst with a percentage of 21.44068 % . Whereas, the least common types of parasitic protozoa were Cyclospora catenensis Oocyst , A percentage of 6.779661% followedCryptosporidium parvum Oocystand Isospora spp. Oocyst ,A percentage of 7.627119% and 7.71186 % respectively . As for helminths , they were the most common speciesFasciola hepatica eggswith a percentage of 19.236% , with significant differences from other parasitic species at the probability level P≥0.05 ,Followed by Trichuris trichura eggs, with a percentage of 15.00682% . Whereas, the least common parasitic worms were Taeneaspp. Eggs with a percentage of 3.819918% followed by Strongyloides stercoralis eggs with a percentage of 9.41337% .