Study on Contamination of Commonly consumed Raw Vegetables with transmitted Helminth Eggs and Parasitic Cysts in Bojnurd City, North Khorasan Province

Fresh vegetables are a crucial part of a healthy diet. Raw eating vegetables as a nutritional habit in Iranian families is the main way for transmission of intestinal parasitic organisms. Up to our knowledge, no previous surveys have been conducted to detect the presence of parasitic contamination in vegetables in Bojnurd. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate parasitic contamination in fresh unwashed herbs sold in Bojnurd, Iran. In this study, all samples collected from markets of Bojnurd during 2017. The detergent solution was added and the mixture was shaken. The herbs were removed and washed solution was filtered. All samples were microscopically examined according to standardized parasitological techniques for detection of protozoan cyst, oocytes, helminth eggs as well as larva. No parasites were observed in standard unwashed samples. As we know, the consumption of raw vegetables without proper washing plays a major epidemiological role in the transmission of parasitic diseases. It is necessary that health and environmental authorities trained the consumers on the standard washing of vegetables before consumption. In regard to results of other studies proper treatment of wastewater used for irrigation of vegetables should be implemented.