PARASITIC CONTAMINATION OF COMMON EDIBLE FRESH VEGETABLES SOLD IN OMDURMAN CITY, KHARTOUM, SUDAN

Eating raw vegetables is one of the main ways that pathogens, such as internal parasites, are spread.The purpose of this study was to ascertain the frequency of parasite contamination of edible vegetables that were offered for sale in Omdurman, Khartoum State, marketplaces.317 samples of commonly consumed vegetables in Sudan were gathered directly from the markets between June 2020 and May 2021 for this cross-sectional study.The samples were tested in a laboratory using sedimentation and flotation techniques for the presence of parasites.A questionnaire was also administered to 1619 vendors in the targeted locations to ascertain the association between parasite presence and health behaviours.According to the findings, 24 samples (7.6%) were contaminated, with Ascaris and Giardia accounting for the largest percentages of isolates (25% and 25%, respectively).Men made up 68.7% of the participants, 30.1% were between the ages of 48 and 58, and the majority had only completed primary school.Since supermarket samples were less contaminated than those from public markets, we conclude that safety regulations vary by market and that public health officials should emphasize proper health practices.We also found a correlation between some poor health behaviours and parasite contamination of vegetables.