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Prevalence of Parasitic Contamination in Some Leafy Vegetables in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf province

Rafal Haider Saad
Duha Ali Hassan
Reyam Adil Hassan
Journal of Progressive Medical Sciences, Vol. 1 No. 3 (2025): Journal of Progressive Medical Sciences
Published: 2025-11-30

Abstract

The current study was designed to identify parasites contaminating some types of vegetables available in local markets in Najaf. Six types of leafy vegetables were collected, including: Chard (Beta vulgaris), Celery (Apium graveolens), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Leek (Allium ampeloprasum), Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) Lettuce (Lactuca sativa).


            The most common intestinal parasites were Giardia cysts, which were found in leek and celery in particular (7 instances each). These were followed by E. coli cysts and E. histolytica cysts, which were also commonly found in leek and celery. The biggest numbers were found in spinach and lettuce, while Ascaris and H. nana eggs were found at lower frequency. Chard had the lowest overall contamination levels, while celery and leek had the highest. These results show that there are notable differences in parasite contamination amongst various vegetables, with Giardia being the most common contaminant.

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Author Biography

Rafal Haider Saad
None
Duha Ali Hassan
None
Reyam Adil Hassan
None
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