Parasitological evaluation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) commercialized in Rio de Janeiro Municipality (RJ)

Abstract

Many raw vegetables are eaten in salads. Thus, they can carry pathogens when no properly sanitized. In Brazil, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the main vegetable components of salads. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of parasites contaminating lettuce samples commercialized in natura as well as raw lettuce served in self-service restaurants in Rio de Janeiro municipality. From July to October, 2010, 90 lettuce samples were collected, as follows: 60 samples that were commercialized in natura (30 of them were of smooth variety and 30 were of curl variety) and another 30 of curl variety were obtained in restaurants, where they were ready to consumption as raw salad. All samples were analized using Dennis, Stone and Swanson technique, in Subgerência de Parasitologia da Unidade de Diagnóstico, Vigilância, Fiscalização Sanitária e Medicina Veterinária Jorge Vaitsman”. Of all the 90 samples, 70% were contaminated by parasites. There was no statistical difference between smooth and curl varieties, but there was statistical difference between curl samples commercialized in natura and those offered in restaurants as raw salad. The parasites found were Strongyloides sp. eggs and larvae, Ancylostomidae eggs, Strongylidae larvae, Hymenolepis sp. eggs, coccids oocysts, Entamoeba sp. cysts and Isospora cysts. The results reveal that is necessary to fortify the sanitary surveillance system and to provide guidance to producers, handlers and general public about the importance of acquiring vegetables from reliable sources, as well as the need for proper cleaning and disinfection lettuce leaves before consumption.