Research on the presence of parasites on vegetables as a teaching tool

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to describe a teaching practice integrated with research that could be developed in primary and junior high schools and universities. The research was carried out from 2002 to 2011 as a practical activity of Parasitology applied to the Nutrition Course. Each work team received a practical plan (project) with instructions to carry out enteroparasite research in vegetables. The vegetables were processed using the principle of the spontaneous sedimentation technique with a device developed with recycled material. The sediment was observed between a slide and a lugol-stained slide. Contamination was found in ten vegetable species with 36.4% (56/154) positivity. Of these, 48.8% were helminths, 23.3% protozoan cysts and 13.9% helminth eggs. Student evaluation of the practical activity was positive with 98.4% acceptance. This practice has contributed to the education of academics, enlivening and encouraging the study of parasitology and alerting future health professionals that parasites carried in vegetables eaten raw are a concern for food safety and consequently, public health.