The Basic Profile of Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) in Lettuce Vegetables (Lactuca sativa) in Traditional Markets in Malang City, Indonesia
Randa Ersapta1,2), Sofia Ery Rahayu1), Hendra Susanto1 a), Agung Witjoro1) , Sinta Dewi Misbahol Kurnia, Dymas Ambarwati, and Affan Wudy Alifianto
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri
Malang, Malang, Indonesia
2Public Health Center Slawe-Trenggalek, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Abstract
Land-transmitted worm infections (STH) are a health problem which is prone to occur in children in Indonesia. This worm infection is also one the causes of the high prevalence of stunting in infants in Malang city with an incidence of 3,029 cases. It is assumed that consumption of raw vegetables without proper washing facilitates has been the spread of worm eggs in populations in Malang City. This study was designed to determine the rate of contamination of Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) Worms in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in the traditional market of Malang City. A total of 17 vegetable samples from vegetable traders from several markets in Malang were collected for laboratory tests. These samples were tested by microscopic examination to detect the presence of parasites. The results of this study indicated that Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were more dominant in vegetables (82.5%) compared to Ancylostoma duodenale eggs (17.5%). The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides worm eggs in Blimbing Market and Big Market in Malang city is higher than the prevalence of hookworm eggs. This study concluded that lettuce vegetables in the traditional market of Malang city were potential for parasitic infections transmission, especially Ascaris lumbricoides worms. Thus, early prevention is needed for these spreading parasites with intensification of hand washing and vegetable washing processes with standardized methods.
Keywords: Soil Transmitted Helinths, Lettuce, Malang Traditional market, spreading parasites
Topic: Zoology