The parasitic contamination of Garden cress Lepidium sativum L. and Lettuce Lactuca sativa L. in Baghdad city, Iraq

Leafy vegetables are desirable diets as they provide important nutrient requirements. They are low calories and rich in dietary fibres. Their consumption is associated with mental well-being. Their contamination with human parasites represents a global problem and comprises the biggest microbiological risk concern accompanied by health and economic consequences. In Iraq, Garden cress Lepidium sativum L. and Lettuce Lactuca sativa L. are among the most common leafy vegetables and are served daily during the winter season. The samples of each vegetable species (68) were collected randomly from local markets in New Baghdad and Sadr City on the eastern side of Baghdad during the period from mid-February to mid-March 2021. These two places were with high limited income population density. Vegetable samples were immersed in physiological saline in suitable plastic containers and left for 15 minutes then centrifuged to collect parasites. Iodine and Z-N stains and wet mount microscopy were used to detect the protozoan cysts. The results showed that protozoa contaminate 66.2% and 44.1% of the cress and lettuce samples. A total of 10 parasitic species of protozoa and helminths were recorded. The recovered ten parasite species are of medical importance. Using human faeces in the fertilization of the vegetable cultivation fields seems to be the most probable transmission route of the 10 parasitic stages recorded in this study to humans.