AN INVESTIGATION ON AND ISOLATION OF HUMAN PARASITES ASSOCIATED WITH CONTAMINATED CATHA EDULIS LEAVES SOLD IN SELECTED PARTS OF NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
Nthiga J. N. - College of Health Science, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Amos Mbugua - Department of Biomedical Science, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Christopher Anjili - Chief Research Officer (Parasitology/Entomology), CBRD, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Catha edulis (Khat) is a stimulant containing the alkaloid, cathione. The most common form of C. edulis is as dried leaves which can be chewed, brewed into tea, sprinkled on food or smoked. Contamination of leaves can lead to widespread diorrhoeal diseases among the vendors and consumers. Broad objective: The main objective was to investigate and isolate human parasites associated with contaminated c.edulis leaves sold in selected streets of Nairobi City County. Study design and site. The study Design was descriptive Cross Sectional. The study sites was include selected street of Nairobi City County where the leaves are highly sold and consumed, and include East Leigh, Kawangware, Kibra, Mathare, Dandora. Material and methods: Authority to conduct the study was obtained from JKUAT/ KNH/UoN ERC. The study population was vendors of Khat in selected city streets. An administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 155 vendors across the study sites. Khats leaves were collected in aerated bags. The leaves were processed in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology Labs. Concentration and Direct method were carried out to isolate human parasites on the leaves. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23.0 and STATA 12. A statistical analysis was done using the chi square; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Parasites were isolated in 15.4% (n=24) of the study sites. G. lamblia 6.5% (N=10), E. hystolitica 5.8% (n=9) were the main parasites. Others were A. lumbricoides 1.9 (n=3), and strongyloides 1.3% (n=2). Majority 54.8% (n=85) stored the leaves on the ground uncovered. Stagnation wastes were in 70.3% (n=109) of the study sites. Toilets were mainly public open sharing and water vendors with open communal taps 84.2% (n=130 were the main) water suppliers. E. hystolitica and G. lamblia were mainly isolated in Eastleigh. G. lamblia was found in all areas except Kibra. Presence of parasites was statistically found to be associated with the area/ site, p=0.011 and the type of wates (p=0.043). Conclusion: The main contaminants of C. edulis leaves were G. lamblia and E. Hystolitica with a wide spread across Nairobi county. Parasites were associated with stagnation wastes poor hygiene, and poor storage of the leaves especially on the ground uncovered. Recommendations: Setting up of standard shops with required level of hygiene by the county government for vending C. edulis leaves, ensuring that vendors undergo regular medical checkup and proper disposal of wastes will reduce contaminations of the leaves, government to facilitate value addition mechanism to reduce contamination of leaves.
