Food safety: detection of pathogenic protozoa (Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp.) in organic and conventional grown fresh produce

• Grant number: 17/14223-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2017
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Regina Maura Bueno Franco
• Grantee: Gabriele da Silva Souza Gois
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Water and food contaminated with cysts of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. are the main route of transmission of these protozoa which cause, respectively, giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in humans. These parasites show great relevance in public health as they affecting children which showing gastroenteritis. The objective of the study is to verify the presence of these parasites in samples of vegetables, such as lettuce and arugula sold commercially in the region of Campinas, in order to evaluate the differences between conventional and organic cultivation. Vegetable samples (30 g of commercially purchased lettuce and arugula leaves) will be washed with 1M glycine solution and the liquid obtained after a sedimentation step will be concentrated by centrifugation and analyzed by direct immunofluorescence method employing specific monoclonal antibodies (anti-Cryptosporidium and anti-Giardia). Statistical tests will be carried out to compare the positivity between commercial and organic crops. (AU)