A survey on Giardia and Cryptosporidium contamination of carrot and cantaloupe juice in Shiraz and its association with some hygienic indices

In the present study, a total of two hundred samples (100 samples from carrot juice and 100 samples from cantaloupe juice) were collected and examined by floatation method for Giardia cysts and by modified Ziehl-Nielson staining for Cryptosporidium oocysts. All cantaloupe juice samples were negative for both parasite, but two carrot juice samples (2%) were positive for Giardia cysts (5×10 -2 & 10×10 -2 cysts per cubic centimeter) and thirteen samples (13%) for Cryptosporidium oocysts (7- 1050 oocysts per cubic centimeter). There was no significant association between different localities, hygienic indices of shops (appearance situation, lining walls and floors with tile, existing cashier, using topcoat and hat), contamination rate and infection intensity. Regarding to high contamination rate of carrot juice, its sanitary washing before making juice appears to be essential in reducing infection rate.