Parasitic Contamination of Lettuce, Tomato and Cucumber from Vegetable Farms in Mali| Chapter 6 | Current Topics in Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7

The goal of this study was to identify parasite contaminants in lettuce, tomato, and cucumber from some Mali vegetable producing areas in order to estimate the health risk associated with their use. Fresh veggies are an important part of a healthy diet. They have the potential to spread intestinal parasites if consumed raw. On thirty-two lettuce, tomato, and cucumber samples from irrigated vegetable fields in Bamako, Kati, Baguineda, Samanko, Sikasso, and Niono, the frequency and diversity of parasite eggs were studied. The parasite burden was determined by counting parasite eggs and cysts in 100 g of vegetable. Overall, 20.83 percent of vegetables were parasite-infested, with lettuce accounting for 41.66 percent and tomato accounting for 16.66 percent. There were no parasite eggs on the cucumber. Entamoeba coli and Trichomonas intestinalis (both 24.19 percent) were found on the vegetables, as well as Ascaris lumbricoides (13.25 percent), Giardia intestinalis (12.9 percent), Balantidium coli (11.29 percent), Entamoeba histolitica (7.26 percent), Fasciola hepatica (3.23 percent), Trichinella spiralis (1.61 percent), Ancylostoma duoden (1.04 percent each). Parasites on lettuce were discovered in 83.33 percent of cases in Bamako and Niono, 50.00 percent in Kati, 16.66 percent in Baguineda and Samanko, and 0.00 percent in Sikasso. Customers are putting their health at danger by eating parasite-infested veggies. Some agronomic procedures used by Mali's vegetable producers might be a source of parasite contamination, putting farmers' and customers' health at risk. Undecomposed manure, open defecation on farms, drain run-off, polluted soil and irrigation water, and overhead irrigation are all possible causes of contamination in lettuce, tomato, and cucumber farms. Scientific quantitative data was required to track the process by which parasites reach irrigated crops and to identify crucial spots where health risk reduction strategies might be implemented.

Author(s) Details:

Sanata Traore,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Fasse Samake,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali and Institute of Applied Sciences; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Mamadou Weleba Bagayoko,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Amadou Hamadoun Babana,
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques; University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali, P. O. Box E 3206, Bamako, Mali.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CTAS-V7/article/view/6782