Plant-borne human contamination by fascioliasis

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2006 Aug;75(2):295-302.

Abstract

Contamination by fasciolids takes place through ingestion of metacercariae attached to vegetables. Experimental studies were performed with plant-made foods suggesting a role in human contamination in Iran and on the usefulness of potassium permanganate as a preventive tool for killing metacercariae attached to vegetables used in salads in Egypt. In the foods assayed, although viability decreases with time, a high percentage of the metacercariae were still alive 2 and 4 weeks after preparation. Infection of laboratory animals proved that metacercariae kept their infectivity. The 5-minute tests of potassium permanganate effects showed that metacercarial viability was not affected even at the very high doses of 300, 600, and 1,200 mg/L. Careful, subsequent washing of leaves and vegetables with water is therefore needed after its application. A review on similar studies performed with metacercariae belonging to fasciolid and other trematode species affecting humans is included.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cricetinae
  • Fasciola / drug effects*
  • Fasciola / isolation & purification
  • Fascioliasis / prevention & control*
  • Fascioliasis / transmission
  • Female
  • Food Handling
  • Food Parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Mesocricetus
  • Mice
  • Potassium Permanganate / pharmacology*
  • Snails
  • Vegetables / parasitology*

Substances

  • Potassium Permanganate