The Bioscientist (May 2014)
Human parasitic ova and cyst in local food drinks sold in open markets in Enugu municipality, south-east, Nigeria
Abstract
A cross sectional study on the prevalence of parasitic ova and cyst in local food drinks (Soya milk, Kunu-zaki and Zobo) from four open markets in Enugu municipality, Southeast Nigeria was carried out in March, 2013. Fifty (50) bottles of each drink were bought from hawkers from our different markets, making a total of 600 bottles of drinks. Formol-ether concentration technique was employed to concentrate the parasites in the drinks. Of the 600 bottles of drinks whose content were examined 254(42%) were contaminated with ova and cysts of parasites. Parasites isolated were protozoan (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Balantidium coli) and helminthes (Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura). E. histolytica was the highest (27.6%) type of parasite recorded. The highest number of parasites 166(30.1%) was recorded in food drinks collected from Ogbete main market while the lowest number of parasites 117(21.4%) was from Artisan market. Kunu-zaki drink recorded the highest number 192(31.9%) of parasites. However the number of parasites isolated from the different drinks and from different markets did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Study indicated that most of the locally made food drinks being hawked in Nigerian markets and environ are contaminated. Such drinks which are cheap with high nutritional values are beverages from beans, leaves and sorghum. Unhygienic environment and poor handling could be the sources of contamination. Health education involving the food drink producers as well as monitoring the activities and the environment of such producers by health workers is advocated.
