PARASITIC EXAMINATION OF PROMINENT VEGETABLES SOLD IN DIFFERENT LOCAL MARKETS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.

Vegetables are plant parts consumed by humans and some animals as food, and they include leaves, roots, and stems or stalks. These parts can become contaminated with gastrointestinal parasites, thereby predisposing individuals to various diseases. The present study was conducted to determine the occurrence of parasites in selected leafy vegetables sold in Ugbodiobo market, Odighi Market, Ugo-Niyekarhiomwom old farm market and Ekiohuon (Ekehuan) market located in Benin City, Edo State). A total of 330 vegetable samples were examined for parasitic presence. Standard parasitological procedure was employed by sedimentation technique. The result revealed that there was even distribution of parasites; A. lumbricoides (21%), S. stercoralis (9%), Hookworm (13%), T. trichiura (13%), G. lamblia (10%), E. histolytica (25%) E. vermicularis (9%). The largest number of parasites in these local markets of Benin city was determined on spinach leaf. Percentage parasite occurrence on other leaves varied significantly (P<0.05). The highest parasites recorded on scent leaf was A. lumbricoides (46%), on pumpkin leaf was A. lumbricoides (29%), on cabbage was E. histolytica (44%), on Eboziza leaf was E. histolytica (30%), A. lumbricoides (28%) and S. stercoralis (24%) on Ebewewie leaf was A. lumbricoides (38%), on curry leaf was A. lumbricoides (46%) on Waterleaf was E. histolytica (36%) and A. lumbricoides (32%). The overall highest para sites on leafy vegetable was A. lumbricoides (31%) and E. histolytica (27%)