Abstract

SENA BARNABE, Anderson et al. Comparative analysis of parasite detection methods in vegetables for human consumption. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2010, vol.62, n.1, pp.24-34. ISSN 0375-0760.

INTRODUCTION: vegetable contamination is a persistent health problem. The different methods of processing and diagnosis make it difficult to determine the most effective and sensitive technique. OBJECTIVE: a comparative analysis of parasitological technique sensitivity in vegetable samples. METHODS: a total of 30 samples were harvested lettuce (Lactuca sativa), rocket (Eruca sativa) and watercress (Nasturtium officinale) and later analyzed using Hoffman, Pons, and Janer (HPJ) and Faust (f) techniques. Data were analyzed, using the Bland-Altman test to evaluate the correlation and the Mann-Whitney test to compare the medians. RESULTS: of the analyzed samples, 46.6 % were positive for intestinal parasites; Balantidium coli, accounting for 20 % of contamination, Entamoeba coli (21.6 %) and Entamoeba histolityca (5 %), Trichuris trichiura(3,3 %) and Strongyloides stercoralis (2.5 %) The Bland-Altman test showed significant correlation between the analyzed methods. When evaluating the averages separately, there was significant difference (pd» 0.05) among the results. CONCLUSIONS: this study proved that the HPJ technique was more effective for the detection of eggs, helminth larvae and protozoan cysts in the plants under study.

Keywords : parasitism; vegetables for human consumption; diagnosis.

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