Contamination of vegetables with eggs of certain zoonotic helminths at different market places of Guwahati, Assam

This study was conducted to evaluate the contamination of vegetables with eggs of zoonotic helminths at 4 different market places of Guwahati during a period of 6 months from June to November, 2013. Ten samples each of coriander leaves, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, carrot and beetroot were randomly selected for the study. Washed sediment of the samples were examined by both routine salt floatation and centrifugal sedimentation method and examined for the presence of helminth eggs. Of 140 samples examined, 120 (85.71%) were found positive for eggs of Toxocara canis (45.71%), Trichuris (17.14%), Diphyllobothrium latum (7.14%), Fasciola gigantica (10.00%) and Capilllaria spp. (5.71%). Highest contamination was found in coriander leaves with eggs of T. canis (90%) followed by Trichuris spp. (80%), Capillaria spp. (20%) and D. latum (20%). Carrot had T. canis (60%), D. latum (20%) and F. gigantica (30%) eggs; spinach had Trichuris spp. (20%), T. canis (60%) and F. gigantica (40%) eggs. Cabbage was contaminated with eggs of T. canis (50%) and D. latum (10%); tomato had Toxocara spp. (40%), Trichuris spp. (10%) eggs and beet root contained T. canis (20%) and Trichuris spp. (10%); cauliflower contained eggs of Capillaria spp. (20%). From this study it was concluded that, raw vegetables available at different market places of Guwahati are contaminated with helminth eggs, some of which may invite human health risk if not properly processed. Food safety standards during selling of vegetable products are warranted.