Do cultivo à comercialização: avaliação da qualidade sanitária de diferentes estágios da cadeia produtiva de vegetais orgânicos no sul do Brasil

Introduction: The concomitant monitoring of parasites and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in the organic vegetable production chain is not routinely carried out. Objective: To evaluate contamination by intestinal parasites and FIB at different stages of the organic vegetable production chain. Method: For this purpose, two groups were defined: group I – five sampling campaigns at three sites of raw water used for irrigation of vegetables, and one site of vegetable washing water (VWW) from Rio Branco do Sul/PR. Group II – curly lettuces (n = 80) from the same municipality sold at organic open-air markets in Curitiba/PR. Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts were searched by membrane filtration and direct immunofluorescence assay and FIB by Colilert® and Enterolert®. Lettuce from group II were eluted with glycine (1M), and the entire resulting sediment was analyzed by optical microscopy to search for parasites. Results: Contamination by Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts was detected in 20.00% (n = 4) of the samples from group I. Among these, 40.00% of the VWW samples showed contamination by both protozoa. Balantioides coli cysts were detected in 40% of the post-hygienization samples. FIB was detected in all water sites, with a higher concentration of Enterococcus sp. In open street markets, 16.25% of the samples were contaminated by parasites, with B. coli being the most frequently detected. Conclusions: The results denote a wide dispersion of parasites at different stages of the organic vegetable production chain and reinforce the need for continuous monitoring of hygienic-sanitary quality at critical points in the vegetable production chain, aiming to prevent WFD.