Prevalence of intestinal parasites and microbial contamination in common edible vegetables used in Gaza Governorate, Palestine

The present study was conducted to assess the extent of contamination with human intestinal parasites and to determine the bacterial quality in commonly vegetables in Gaza Governorate. A total of 320 vegetable samples which included dill, Jew’s mallow, lettuce, parsley, peppermint, rocket, and spring onion were collected from the local markets in Gaza and examined for their contamination with human intestinal parasites and bacteria. These vegetables were processed by parasitological and microbial standard methods. The present study showed that 118 samples out of 320 were contaminated with human parasites with a prevalence rate of 36.9%. The lowest contaminated vegetable was spring onion at 3.43% and the highest contaminated one was Jew’s mallow (6.87%). The most recovered parasite was the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, which has a percent rate 17.2%. Coliform, fecal coliform, and Escherichia coli were detected in high percentage of the tested vegetables. Six vegetable samples were contaminated with Cryptosporidium sp. It is concluded that the fresh commonly used vegetables in Gaza governorate were contaminated with intestinal parasites and bacteria. Measures and inspection of the commonly used fresh vegetables by health authorities should be regular in Gaza community