Prevalence of Parasitic Eggs in Freshly Consumed Vegetables Commercially Traded in Selected Markets within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT Abuja

ABSTRACT Commonly sold vegetables within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, FCT Abuja were investigated for the prevalence of parasitic eggs. A total of 225 vegetable samples were collected and investigated for the presence of these parasites using standard methods, and quite a number of them were positive. Results obtained showed the parasitic infestation rates were 71.11%, 71.11%, 68.89%, 55.55% and 20% for water leaf, green, pumpkin, lettuce and carrot respectively. The parasites encountered included, hookworm (14.22%), Ascaris (9.78%), Enterobius (7.11%), Entamoeba histolytica (7.11%), Trichuris (6.22%), Strongyloides (5.33%), Giardia (4%) and Taenia (3.56%). Out of the three markets, Nyanya market had the highest incidence of parasitic eggs. With regards to this study, the importance of vegetables in the transmission of intestinal parasites is stressed.
  TABLE OF CONTENTS       Page Title……………………………………………………………….      Declaration…………………………………………………………    ii Certification………………………………………………………...   iii Dedication………………………………………………………….    iv Acknowledgements………………………………………………...    v Abstract……………………………………………………………..   vi Table of contents……………………………………………………  vii List of tables………………………………………………………..   xi List of figures………………………………………………………    xii List of Appendices…………………………………………………    xiii
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………..  1 1.1     Statement of problems……………………………………….. 3 1.2     Scope and limitations………………………………………… 4 1.3     Justification…………………………………………………..   4 1.4     Aim and objectives…………………………………………… 5
CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………… 6 2.1     Parasitic presence on vegetables………………………………          7 2.1.1  Giardia duodenalis…………………………………………….          8 2.1.2  Cyclospora cayetanensis……………………………………….          8 2.1.3  Toxoplasma gondii……………………………………………..         8 2.1.4  Taenia saginata/Taenia solium…………………………………        9 2.1.5  Entamoeba histolytica………………………………………….         10 2.1.6  Helminths……………………………………………………….         10 2.1.6.1 Hookworm……………………………………………………..       12 2.1.6.2 Ascaris lumbricoides………………………………………….. 13 2.1.6.3 Strongyloides stercoralis……………………………………….15 2.2     Mode of transmission……………………………………………. 16 2.3     Signs and symptoms of parasitic infestation…………………….. 17 2.4     Control of parasitic infestation……………………………………18 2.5     Prevalence of parasitic infestation on vegetables in Nigeria……...19
CHAPTER THREE MATERIALS AND METHODS………………………………………... 21 3.1     Study Area………………………………………………………… 21 3.2     Collection of samples……………………………………………... 23 3.3     Processing of samples……………………………………………... 24 3.4     Laboratory Analysis………………………………………………..24 3.5     Identification of parasites…………………………………………..25 3.6     Statistical Analysis…………………………………………………25
CHAPTER FOUR RESULTS………………………………………………………………... 26
CHAPTER FIVE DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………… 33 5.1     Conclusion…………………………………………………………... 34 5.2     Recommendations…………………………………………………… 35 References………………………………………………………………….. 36 Appendices….......... 40

LIST OF TABLES TABLE       TITLE     PAGE 1 Sources of pathogenic microorganisms on fresh Fruits and vegetables 7 2 Survival times of selected excreted pathogens on crops          11 3 Prevalence of parasitic eggs in vegetables bought from  Lugbe market in FCT Abuja  28 4  Prevalence of parasitic eggs in vegetables bought from Garki market in FCT Abuja  29 5 Prevalence of parasitic eggs in vegetables bought from Nyanya market in FCT Abuja 30 6 Prevalence of parasitic eggs in vegetables bought from three markets in FCT Abuja 31 7 Percentage parasitic infestation in vegetables in three markets in FCT Abuja 32
LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE  TITLE  PAGE 1 Lifecycle and transmission of hookworm  13 2 Lifecycle and transmission of Ascaris lumbricoides        14 3 Lifecycle and transmission of Strongyloides stercoralis            15 4 Map of the Federal Capital Territory                            21 5 Incidence of parasitic eggs in freshly consumed Vegetables traded within FCT Abuja  34 6 Percentage parasitic infestation in three markets within FCT Abuja  34


LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX  TITLE   PAGE 1 ANOVA results for prevalence of parasitic eggs sold in the three selected markets  41 2 Pictures showing the practical process involved in the study   45