Contaminação por parasitos gastrointestinais de mamíferos em alface (Lactuca sativa L.) em áreas de produção do município de Garanhuns, Pernambuco

Abstract

In addition to an important source of vitamins and minerals, vegetables, mainly raw ones, are used for the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancer and obesity. In recent years, these vegetables have emerged as an important food option, which increases the demand for vegetable consumption worldwide. Linked to the increase in the intense consumption of these vegetables, problems caused by gastrointestinal parasites transmitted by these contaminated foods are emerging. These parasites spread through the use of water or fertilizer contaminated with human and / or animal fecal material. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the contamination by immature forms of gastrointestinal parasites of mammals in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) from different production areas of the municipality of Garanhuns, state of Pernambuco. For that, from August 2017 to January 2018 were evaluated 60 lettuces from three producing areas. Laboratory analyzes were performed using the sedimentation technique. From the analyzed samples, in 93% (56/60) the contamination was detected by some immature form of parasite, being the genera Strongyloides spp. and Entamoeba spp. the most frequent, with no statistical difference between the areas. Therefore, it is concluded that the lettuces produced in the municipality present high incidence of contamination by parasites, and that the producers are unaware of the importance of hygiene and care in the production and post-harvesting of vegetables.