Prevalence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables used for salads

The presence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables, including lettuce, parsley, green onions, cucumbers, carrots, red cabbage, tomatoes, rockets (Eruca sativa), and green-peppers from wholesalers in Ankara, Turkey was determined. A total of 203 unwashed and 406 washed samples were assayed by light microscopy. Helminth eggs were detected in 12 (5.9%) of 203 unwashed samples and not in any washed samples (p<0.05).Helminth eggs detected in unwashed samples included Taenia spp. (3.5%), Toxocara spp. (1.5%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (1.0%) eggs. Taenia spp. eggs were recovered to be highest number (n=130), followed by Toxocara spp. eggs (n=21). Approximately 11% of unwashed lettuce and parsley was contaminated compared with only 2.5% of carrot samples. No helminth eggs were detected in red cabbage, rockets, tomatoes or green-peppers.These results highlight the potential for transmission of helminth eggs by unwashed salad vegetables in Turkey and the importance of properly washing/disinfecting raw vegetables before consumption.