Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold in open markets: a public health threat

Vegetables eating raw are a leading source of transmission of infective forms of pathogenic internal parasites among human beings. This research was conducted from April to October, 2017 to assess the parasitic contamination of vegetables sold at main vegetable markets in districts Lower Dir and Peshawar, Pakistan. Eight hundred specimens of different vegetables were purchased and soaked in physiological saline solution, shaken with a mechanical shaker for 20 minutes and processed by sedimentation concentration method. Results revealed that only 19.7% (n=158/800) of the vegetables were found to be contaminated with single or multiple parasite species. Ascaris lumbricoides (the large round worm) 12.3% (n=99/800) was the most commonly detected pathogen and Taenia saginata (the beef tapeworm) 1.62% (n=13/800) was the least frequently detected one. Interestingly, significant p value (p>0.05 at 95%CI) between the number of examined and contaminated for all the variables studied including education status of the vendors, markets location, type of vegetables, means of display, washed before display, washing source of water and market type. The findings of this study evidenced that consumption of raw vegetables possesses great risk of getting parasitic infections in Lower Dir and Peshawar districts, Pakistan. Instructing the sellers and the public about parasitic disease transfer and their hygiene can reduce the infection rate of parasites of human origin.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION OF INVASION OF THE POPULATION OF THE REGIONS OF THE SOUTHERN REGION OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

On the territory of the country, there are about 20 types of helminthiasis, among which enterobiasis, ascariasis, hymenolepiasis and echinococcosis are widespread. From the group of protozoa, giardiasis, amebiasis, malaria, chlamydia and toxoplasmosis are common. According to the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the number of patients with parasitic diseases exceeds 40 thousand per year. So, in 2007, in the structure of infectious pathology excluding influenza and acute respiratory infections, the proportion of parasitic infections was 36.0%. At the same time, the data of official statistics do not reflect the true picture of the parasitic infections prevalence in the population. Among the parasitic diseases registered in the republic, the specific total of helminthiases is on average 85%, of which intestinal helminths occupy the leading place. The article provides a comparative characteristic of the structure, dynamics, age and gender distribution of parasitic diseases among the population of Osh, Jalal-Abat, Batken regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. In all areas, enterobiasis (72.9 per 1000 examined) dominates, followed by giardiasis (45.5), ascariasis (32.2) and hymenolepidiasis (2.4). The average long-term indicator of parasitoses per 1000 for the period 2015 to 2019 is 46.9. The risk group for all registered parasitoses included of children under 14 years old with a proportion -80.4%. Key words: parasitic infection, enterobiasis, ascaridiasis, giardiasis, beef tapeworm infection, dicroceliosis, amebiasis

Cysticercosis and taeniasis cases diagnosed at two referral medical institutions, Belgium, 1990 to 2015

Background Few case reports on human infections with the beef tapeworm Taenia saginata and the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, diagnosed in Belgium have been published, yet the grey literature suggests a higher number of cases. Aim To identify and describe cases of taeniasis and cysticercosis diagnosed at two Belgian referral medical institutions from 1990 to 2015. Methods In this observational study we retrospectively gathered data on taeniasis and cysticercosis cases by screening laboratory, medical record databases as well a uniform hospital discharge dataset. Results A total of 221 confirmed taeniasis cases were identified. All cases for whom the causative species could be determined (170/221, 76.9%) were found to be T. saginata infections. Of those with available information, 40.0% were asymptomatic (26/65), 15.4% reported diarrhoea (10/65), 9.2% reported anal discomfort (6/65) and 15.7% acquired the infection in Belgium (11/70). Five definitive and six probable cases of neurocysticercosis (NCC), and two cases of non-central nervous system cysticercosis (non-CNS CC) were identified. Common symptoms and signs in five of the definitive and probable NCC cases were epilepsy, headaches and/or other neurological disorders. Travel information was available for 10 of the 13 NCC and non-CNS CC cases; two were Belgians travelling to and eight were immigrants or visitors travelling from endemic areas. Conclusions The current study indicates that a non-negligible number of taeniasis cases visit Belgian medical facilities, and that cysticercosis is occasionally diagnosed in international travellers.

Taeniasis in Karangasem Regency, Bali

Taeniasis is an infectious disease caused by the tapeworm Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm). Purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between meat consumption, individual characteristics, and environmental factors with taeniasis. Case control study was used to identify taeniasis among two groups: people living at Datah village (personal livestock) and people living at Karangasem village (obtained their meat from traditional market or slaughterhouse). Each group consisted of 98 people. Two subjects from the case group were positive for taenia egg both by direct smear and Willy’s Malory floatation methods. Proportion of taeniasisinthe case group was 2.04%. The type of meat consumed, methods of meat processing, frequency of consumption, ways of obtaining meat, individual characteristics, and environmental factors which may contribute to Taenia infection could not be evaluated due to limited number of positive cases. Abstrak Taeniasis merupakan penyakit infeksi yang disebabkan karena adanya cacing pita Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm)di dalam tubuh manusia. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan antara konsumsi daging, karakteristik individu dan faktor lingkungan dengan kejadian taeniasis. Jenis rancangan penelitian yang digunakan yaitu case control antar 2 kelompok (penduduk di Desa Datah dan Kelurahan Karangasem, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali). Kelompok kasus yaitu penduduk Desa Datah yang memenuhi kriteria kasus (mengkonsumsi daging dari hewan ternak pribadi), sedangkan kelompok kontrol yaitu penduduk di Kelurahan Karangasem yang memenuhi kriteria untuk kontrol (mengkonsumsi daging dari membeli di pasar atau tempat pemotongan hewan). Tiap kelompok terdiri dari 98 orang. Metode pemeriksaan feses dengan metode langsung dan pengapungan. Terdapat 2 orang yang positif taeniasis dari kelompok kasus, dengan ditemukan telur Taenia sp. pada pemeriksaan langsung dan pengapungan. Hubungan jenis daging, cara pengolahan, frekuensi mengkonsumsi dan cara memperoleh daging, karakteristik individu dan faktor lingkungan dengan kejadian taeniasis tidak dapat dianalisis secara statistic.

Taeniasis in Karangasem Regency, Bali

Taeniasis is an infectious disease caused by the tapeworm Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm). Purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between meat consumption, individual characteristics, and environmental factors with taeniasis. Case control study was used to identify taeniasis among two groups: people living at Datah village (personal livestock) and people living at Karangasem village (obtained their meat from traditional market or slaughterhouse). Each group consisted of 98 people. Two subjects from the case group were positive for taenia egg both by direct smear and Willy’s Malory floatation methods. Proportion of taeniasisinthe case group was 2.04%. The type of meat consumed, methods of meat processing, frequency of consumption, ways of obtaining meat, individual characteristics, and environmental factors which may contribute to Taenia infection could not be evaluated due to limited number of positive cases. Abstrak Taeniasis merupakan penyakit infeksi yang disebabkan karena adanya cacing pita Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), and Taenia asiatica (Asian tapeworm)di dalam tubuh manusia. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan antara konsumsi daging, karakteristik individu dan faktor lingkungan dengan kejadian taeniasis. Jenis rancangan penelitian yang digunakan yaitu case control antar 2 kelompok (penduduk di Desa Datah dan Kelurahan Karangasem, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali). Kelompok kasus yaitu penduduk Desa Datah yang memenuhi kriteria kasus (mengkonsumsi daging dari hewan ternak pribadi), sedangkan kelompok kontrol yaitu penduduk di Kelurahan Karangasem yang memenuhi kriteria untuk kontrol (mengkonsumsi daging dari membeli di pasar atau tempat pemotongan hewan). Tiap kelompok terdiri dari 98 orang. Metode pemeriksaan feses dengan metode langsung dan pengapungan. Terdapat 2 orang yang positif taeniasis dari kelompok kasus, dengan ditemukan telur Taenia sp. pada pemeriksaan langsung dan pengapungan. Hubungan jenis daging, cara pengolahan, frekuensi mengkonsumsi dan cara memperoleh daging, karakteristik individu dan faktor lingkungan dengan kejadian taeniasis tidak dapat dianalisis secara statistic.