Abstract

Common vegetables brought for sale in market within Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State were screened for human parasites in Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology (FCVMLT), Vom, Plateau State. Four hundred (400) samples of eight different vegetable types such as cabbage, lettuce, carrot, spinach, pumpkin, garden egg, tomatoes, and waterleaf were obtained in five different markets of the Local Government Area and screened using centrifugation method. Cysts, ova and larvae of intestinal protozoa, cestodes and nematodes were recovered. 225 (56.25%) of the samples were positive for different species of parasites. 5 (2.0%) were cysts of Entamoeba coli, 10 (4.0%) were Entamoiba histolytica, 2 (0.8%) were Hymenolepis nana, 5 (2.%) were Trichuris trichiura, 6 (2.4%) were Ascaris lumbricoides, 70 (28.2%) were Hookworm species and 150 (60.4%) were Strongyloides stercoralis. S. stercoralis with 60.4% of the positive cases has the highest occurrence, while H.nana with0.8% has the least occurrence. The study also showed that water-leaf with 90% infection rates has the highest parasitic load, while garden egg with 15% has the least load of parasites. Lettuce was found tohave the highest multiple parasitic contamination of six (6), were as carrot and garden egg had the least multiple parasites of two (2). None of the vegetables had single parasitic contamination. In view of these findings there is an indication that human parasites can be acquired through the consumption of thesevegetables, especially when not properly and hygienically prepare before consumption.