Parasitological contamination in salad vegetables in Tripoli-Libya

Background Fresh vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Raw vegetables can be agent of transmission of intestinal parasites. The aim of the present study was to determine the parasitological contamination of salad vegetables sold at wholesale and retail markets in Tripoli-Libya. Methods A total of 126 samples of salad vegetables obtained from wholesale and retail markets were examined for helminth eggs and Giardia spp. cysts of using standard methods. Results Of the 36 tomato, 36 cucumber, 27 lettuce, and 27 cress samples examined eggs of Ascaris spp. were detected in 19%, 75%, 96% and 96%, respectively; eggs of Toxocara cati in 11%, 14%, 48% and 41%; eggs of Toxocara canis in 3%, 8%, 37% and 33%; and eggs of Taenia/Echinococcus spp. in 6%, 25%, 33% and 30%, respectively. Cysts of Giardia spp. were detected in 3%, 19%, 4% and 11%, respectively. Conclusion Parasitological contamination of raw salad vegetables sold in wholesale and retail markets in Tripoli may pose a health risk to consumers of such products.