CONTAMINATION OF WORM EGGS IN CABBAGE (BRASSICA OLERACEA) AND LETTUCE VEGETABLES (LACTUCA SATIVA) IN TRADITIONAL MARKETS OF MAKASSAR

Abstract

Helminthiasis is still a public health problem in the tropics right now, especially those caused by intestinal nematodes that are transmitted through soil or often called Soil-Transmitted Helminthes (STH), cabbage and lettuce are one of the vegetables that have the potential to contaminate Soil-Transmitted Helminth. The purpose of this study was to find out the types of worm eggs in cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in the traditional markets of Daya, Tamamaung, Kalimbu, Sambung Jawa, and Hartako market in Makassar. The type of this research is descriptive research. Research locations were conducted in five traditional markets in Makassar, including Pasar Daya, Tamamaung, Kalimbu, Sambung Jawa, and Hartaco markets, as well as examinations carried out in the parasitology laboratory of the Environmental Health Department Makassar Health Polytechnic. The samples of cabbage and lettuce were 20 samples, 2 samples of cabbage vegetables and 2 samples of lettuce vegetables taken from each market. The results of this study showed that of the 20 samples of cabbage and lettuce which tested positive for worm egg contamination as many as 14 samples (70%). All samples of cabbage and four of lettuce contaminated with worms. Cabbage and lettuce were sold in the Daya, Tamamaung, Kalimbu, and Sambung Jawa markets more contaminated with worm eggs compared to the Hartako market. The researcher found Ascaris lumbricoides worm eggs on cabbage and lettuce samples. The conclusions obtained from the conducted research are all cabbage in the five traditional markets of Makassar contaminated with Ascaris lumbricoides and four of lettuce vegetables also contaminated with Ascaris lumbricoides worm eggs.

Keywords: cabbage vegetables and lettuce, worm eggs, Ascaris lumbricoides