Plant-borne human contamination by fascioliasis

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Food Safety
• Public Health

Background:

• Fasciolid contamination occurs through ingesting metacercariae on vegetables.
• Human contamination is a concern in regions like Iran.
• Preventive measures against foodborne parasites are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the viability of fasciolid metacercariae on plant-based foods.
• To evaluate the efficacy of potassium permanganate in killing metacercariae on vegetables.
• To determine the necessity of washing produce after potential contamination.

Main Methods:

• Experimental studies on plant-made foods contaminated with metacercariae.
• Assessing metacercarial viability over 2 and 4 weeks.
• Testing the effect of potassium permanganate (300–1,200 mg/L) on metacercarial viability.
• Infection studies using laboratory animals to confirm infectivity.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of metacercariae remained viable on food items for up to 4 weeks.
• Metacercariae retained their infectivity after prolonged periods.
• Potassium permanganate treatments, even at high doses, did not affect metacercarial viability.

Conclusions:

• Fasciolid metacercariae on vegetables pose a persistent contamination risk.
• Potassium permanganate is not an effective disinfectant for killing metacercariae on produce.
• Thorough washing of vegetables with water is essential to remove contamination.