Rates of Parasitic Contamination for Arachis hypogaea L (Groundnuts) , Citrullus lanatus Seeds (Watermelon Seeds) , and Ziziphus spina-christi Fruit (Nabag) Sold by Street Venders in Khartoum State

Abstract

Various plants products including seeds are an important source for vitamins, minerals, proteins, and energy. Predominantly they are eaten fresh and un-cooked or even if it they are cooked; they are handled in un-hygienic manner that change them to a major source of intestinal infection. This study aimed to assess the parasitic contamination in roasted groundnut, nabag, and tasali sold by street venders at Khartoum state, Sudan at the period from July 2019 to January 2020. A total of 45 samples (15 of each crop) were purchased from different 15 street venders (5 from each block) at Khartoum state. Samples were washed and exposed to parasitological concentration techniques; Formal Ether Concentration Technique and Saturated Sugar Floatation technique to detect any infective stage. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS. The frequency of parasitic contamination among all crops products was calculated in addition to using Chi-square to test the significance of relationships. The detected parasites included two genera; E.histolytica (33.3%) and G.lamblia (15.6%); whereas no any helminthic parasites were detected. Mixed contamination of the mentioned parasites was observed in 11.1%. The most contaminated crop was nabag (22.2%) followed by roasted groundnut (20%), and then tasali (17.8%). There was no relation between the positivity of samples and crop type (P value= 0.757). The relations between the detected parasite species and crop type, Khartoum blocks were also insignificant (p value: 0.639 and 0.460 respectively). Concerning the used techniques; FECT was more sensitive than saturated sugar technique (p value: 0.000). The present study showed that; there was no effect of crop type on the result positivity of used techniques; FECT and saturated sugar solution technique (p value: 0.655 and 0.591 respectively). The recovered parasite species were implicated in large numbers of intestinal parasitic infections at Khartoum state; hence health authorities should take corrective actions including: soil and water screening at the beginning of agricultural season. In addition to periodic check of venders themselves and their products in central markets or streets. Improve the health education level of farmers, sellers, and population about the infection acquiring and how to prevent it would provide maximum help.