Microbial Contamination of Raw Vegetables in Ahvaz, Iran during 2014-2015

Background & Aims of the Study: Vegetables are useful for humans as they containminerals, vitamins, fiber and other nutrients. Eating raw vegetables are a nutritional habit inIranian families. Raw eating vegetables is the main source of parasitic infections. The aimof this study was to determine microbial contamination of raw vegetables in Ahvaz, Iranduring 2014-2015.Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 samples collected from markets of Ahvaz.Average weight of collecting raw vegetables was 1 to 2 kilograms. Then, raw vegetableswere washed by 4 to 5 liter tap water. For parasitic ova washed water leaved for 24 hoursfor sedimentation and then the supernatant poured and about 50 to 100 milliliter of settledwater transferred to 15 ml centrifugal tubes. After centrifugation, pellet floated and finallyparasitic ova were observed microscopically (corrected Bailenger method). The multipletube method used for Coliform bacteria (Total & Faecal) examination.Results: Maximum Coliform bacteria was in Kootabdullah samples (total Coliform was25893319.52 MPN/100ml and Fecal Coliform was 15054572.83 MPN/100ml). MaximumAscaris ova in Hamidieh was 43.3 per liter and Sheiban 36.66 per litter.Conclusion: Microbial contamination of raw vegetables, especially in Kootabdullah,possibly was due to Karoon river water pollution by sewage discharge of Ahvaz city, andalso in Hamidieh possibly due to Karkheh river water pollution by sewage discharge ofHamidieh city. Thus, sewage treatment of these cities before discharging in rivers isnecessary.

Keywords:

Raw vegetablesColiform bacteriacontaminationparasitic ovaAhvaz , Iran