Parasites Associated with Open Markets Vegetables: Implication for Public Health Interventions in Ethiope East, Southern Nigeria

Objectives: Vegetables have been reported to be a mechanical means of transmission of human intestinal parasites. This study is aimed to ascertain the association between parasites and vegetables sold in Ethiope East, Delta State, Nigeria.

Methods: Two hundred and seventy (270) vegetables were subjected to sedimentation and zinc sulphate floatation techniques for parasitic investigations.

Results: Of the 270 vegetables examined, 184(68.15%) were infected. Talinium occidentalis had the highest prevalence (9.26%), closely followed by Brassica oleracea and Daucus carota with a value of 8.89% and 8.15% respectively. The highest parasite prevalence was observed in Abraka (78.89%), followed by Eku (72.22%) and Okpara water-side (53.33%). Abraka had its highest prevalence in D. carota and Cucumis sativum with a prevalence of 11.11 and 10.00% respectively. Statistically, there was no significant difference in the contaminated vegetable (p > 0.05) but a considerable significant difference was noted in the market locations (p < 0.05). The highest percentage occurrence of parasites was Ascaris lumbricoides with a percentage occurrence of 23.49. The most prevalent parasites in Abraka were A. lumbricoides (45.56%) and Entamoeba histolytica (30.00%). There was significant effect (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of parasites (p = 0.0003; df = 6; F = 11.07) and markets locations (p = 0.0019; df = 2; F = 11.01). The Principal Component Analysis showed that the study locations positively influence the occurrence of parasites with Abraka location accounting for 95.99% of the total variance. The analysis further showed that A. lumbricoides, Trichuris trichura, and hookworm prevalence were strongly correlated to Abraka and Okpara water-side locations.

Conclusion: Given the public health importance of the parasites isolated, there is a need for improved environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and surveillance systems in vegetable transportation, storage and means of displays in Ethiope East and Delta State at large.