Mycobiota and mycotoxins in various kinds of vegetables and fruits as potential health risk factors for consumers - summary of a multiyear study.

Introduction: Between 2015-2020, the concentrations and diversity of filamentous fungi as well as the levels of mycotoxins in 4 classes of vegetables and fruits were studied in samples from farms located in eastern Poland. The short communication summarizes the results with the use of statistical analysis and indicates the potential health hazards associated with the consumption of the produce contaminated with fungi and/or mycotoxins. The concentrations of filamentous fungi in all examined samples were moderate (2.

Mycobiota of berry fruits - levels of filamentous fungi and mycotoxins, composition of fungi, and analysis of potential health risk for consumers.

Introduction And Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the presence, concentration and generic composition of filamentous fungi. Selected mycotoxins were also determined: total aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol.

Material And Methods: In 2017-2018, 40 samples of strawberry fruits and 40 samples of red raspberry fruits were collected.

Levels of filamentous fungi and selected mycotoxins in leafy and fruit vegetables and analysis of their potential health risk for consumers.

Introduction And Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the presence, concentration and generic composition of filamentous fungi. Considering the significant role of mycotoxins in the pathogenicity of fungal contaminants of vegetables, the scope of the study was extended by determination of aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol.

Material And Methods: In the years 2019-2020, samples of vegetables (lettuce, spinach, tomato, red pepper) collected on conventional farms located in eastern Poland were subjected to mycological examination.

Potential sources of infection with selected zoonotic agents in the veterinary work environment - pilot studies.

Introduction And Objective: The problem of occupational biohazards is very important, especially in the field of agriculture and in human and veterinary medicine. The aim of the study was to determine the potential sources of infection in veterinary professionals with selected zoonotic agents, including: , , spp., spp.

Contamination of soil with eggs of geohelminths Ascaris spp., Trichuris spp., Toxocara spp. in Poland - potential source of health risk in farmers.

Soil is one of the most commonly occurring sources of biological hazards in the environment. It is a reservoir of many pathogens and an important factor in the environmental transmission of parasites. The aim of the article is to discuss the general degree of parasitic contamination of agriculturally used soil in Poland from the aspect of potential health risk for farmers.

Parasitological contamination with eggs Ascaris spp., Trichuris spp. and Toxocara spp. of dehydrated municipal sewage sludge in Poland.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the contamination of sewage sludge produced by municipal waste treatment plants in Poland by viable eggs of intestinal parasites of the genera Ascaris, Toxocara and Trichuris (ATT). Ninety-two municipal, mechanical-biological sewage treatment plants located within Poland were selected. These plants belonged to types of agglomerations: group 0 (large), group 1 (medium), group 2 (smaller) and group 3 (small).

Negative effect of flocculant (cationic acrylamide) on detectability of the nematode eggs in sewage sludge.

The use of sewage sludge in agriculture brings the risk of microbiological and parasitological contamination of soil, ground and surface water, as well as cultivated plants. Therefore prior the application to the soil, sewage sludge must be examined, among others, for the presence of live eggs of intestinal parasites. However, the efficiency of commonly used for this purpose parasitological methods is not satisfactory.

Contamination of selected recreational areas in Lublin Province, Eastern Poland, by eggs of Toxocara spp., Ancylostoma spp. and Trichuris spp.

Introduction: While using recreational areas, people take with them accompanying animals (dogs, cats). These animals are the main source and reservoir of dangerous zoonoses, including parasitoses caused by genera of nematodes, also called roundworms, Toxocara spp., Trichuris spp.

Fungal diversity of root vegetables and soil rhizosphere collected from organic and conventional farms in Eastern Poland.

Objective: Determination of the concentration and species composition of filamentous fungi in root vegetables (carrots and red beetroots), and the adjacent rhizosphere soil, collected on organic and conventional farms in Eastern Poland.

Material And Methods: During the period 2015-2016, a total number of 80 samples of vegetables and 40 samples of soil were examined. From each type of farm, 20 samples of vegetables and 20 samples of the adjacent soil were examined.

Variations in the Rate of Infestations of Dogs with Zoonotic Nematodes and the Contamination of Soil in Different Environments.

Companion animals are an important aspect in human life. However, they may also be considered a source of pathogens. An example of zoonotic parasitoses is toxocarosis or cutaneous larva migrans (CLM).

Viability assessment of Ascaris suum eggs stained with fluorescent dyes using digital colorimetric analysis.

The aim of the study was to develop a method for the colorimetric evaluation of nematode eggs using appropriate instruments. The materials for the study were live and dead (inactivated) eggs of the Ascaris suum. Viability of the eggs was assessed using four different kits for fluorescent staining (for each technique, a series of photos were taken).

Division of methods for counting helminths' eggs and the problem of efficiency of these methods.

From the sanitary and epidemiological aspects, information concerning the developmental forms of intestinal parasites, especially the eggs of helminths present in our environment in: water, soil, sandpits, sewage sludge, crops watered with wastewater are very important. The methods described in the relevant literature may be classified in various ways, primarily according to the methodology of the preparation of samples from environmental matrices prepared for analysis, and the sole methods of counting and chambers/instruments used for this purpose. In addition, there is a possibility to perform the classification of the research methods analyzed from the aspect of the method and time of identification of the individuals counted, or the necessity for staining them.

Microbiological characterization of vegetables and their rhizosphere soil in Eastern Poland.

The aim of this study was to investigate the bacteriological quality of 5 kinds of vegetables (lettuce, dill, radish, beetroot, carrot) and their rhizosphere soil, originating from conventional farms located in the Lublin Province of Eastern Poland. A total number of 35 samples of fresh vegetables (FV) taken immediately from soil, 35 samples of soil from rhizosphere of these vegetables (SR) and 35 samples of vegetables sold at retail in the markets in Lublin (VR) were examined. The samples were analysed for the content of: aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB) grown at 30°C and 37°C, Gram-negative bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae family, faecal coliform (FC) bacteria, Salmonella spp.

Characterisation of a new, highly effective method for detecting nematode eggs (Ascaris spp., Toxocara spp., Trichuris spp.) in sewage sludge containing flocculants.

Because traditional methods used for sewage sludge parasitological examinations have low sensitivity, a new, highly effective method (own method - OM) was devised. The principle of this method is to eliminate the flocculent effect on the structure of sewage sludge by mechanically damaging floccules in the presence of surfactants and to increase the effectiveness of egg isolation processes in large volumes of liquids. The objective of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of the OM in detecting nematode eggs in sewage sludge samples containing flocculants.

Epidemiology of human toxocariasis in Poland - A review of cases 1978-2009.

Toxocariasis is a helminthozoonosis due to the infection of humans with larvae belonging to the Toxocara genus. Humans become infected as a result of accidental consumption of infected eggs containing third stage larvae (L3) nematodes from Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati species. Toxocariasis was recognized for the first time in the early 1950s, and the first cases of toxocariasis in Poland were described a few years later.

Prevalence of antibodies against selected zoonotic agents in forestry workers from eastern and southern Poland.

Introduction And Objective: Due to the nature of their work, foresters are exposed to many infectious pathogens from the wildlife reservoir. The primary aim of this study was to assess their contact with these pathogens.

Material And Methods: Sera and antibodies, mainly of IgG class against selected infectious factors, collected from a group of 216 employees of National Forests from eastern and southern Poland, were investigated.

Assessment of viability of the nematode eggs (Ascaris, Toxocara, Trichuris) in sewage sludge with the use of LIVE/DEAD Bacterial Viability Kit.

Sewage sludges from wastewater treatment plants may contain live parasite eggs, which can be a source of humans and animals infection. According to the current rules, parasitological examination includes detection of the Ascaris spp., Trichuris spp.

Seasonal activity of millipedes (Diplopoda)--their economic and medical significance.

The millipede Brachydesmus superus Latzel, Polydesmus inconstans Latzel (Diplopoda: Polydesmida) and Kryphioiulus occultus C. L. Koch (Diplopoda: Julida) were collected from compost in gardens in Lublin, eastern Poland.

Contamination of vegetables, fruits and soil with geohelmints eggs on organic farms in Poland.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the contamination of vegetables, fruits and soil with zoonotic parasite eggs on organic and conventional farms in south-eastern Poland. To evaluate the contamination with eggs of zoonotic parasites, examinations were conducted on 8 conventional and 11 organic farms in south-eastern Poland from May-October in 2008 and 2009. The following fruit and vegetables were selected for the experiment: strawberry, leek, onion, carrot, zucchini, beetroot, parsley, potatoes, celery, rhubarb, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, pumpkin, young beetroot leaves, cauliflower, French beans, turnip, fennel and sorrel.

Contamination of soil with eggs of geohelminths in recreational areas in the Lublin region of Poland.

Recreational areas cover parks, bicycle paths, lawns, urban squares, sports complexes, holiday camp areas, playgrounds for children, beaches, and even spontaneously used green field open spaces. While using recreational areas, people take with them accompanying animals (dogs, cats). These animals constitute the main source and reservoir of many dangerous zoonoses, including parasitoses caused by roundworms of the genus Toxocara and Trichuris.

[Contamination of soil with geohelminth eggs on vegetable organic farms in the Lublin voivodeship, Poland].

Organic farming, despite being more difficult and labour consuming than traditional farming, gains increasingly more followers among farmers. Currently in Poland there are approximately 10 000 organic farms. Pure, uncontaminated soil in the Lublin voivodeship makes this area an ideal location for organic agriculture production.

Correlation between biological agents and levels of heavy metals in municipal sewage sludge.

During the period 2003-2004, 110 samples of sewage sludge were examined from 18 treatment plants located in the territory of the whole of Poland, the majority in the Lublin Province. Samples of fermented and dehydrated sewage sludge were taken from sludge drying beds. The bacteriological and parasitological determinations covered bacteria of the Salmonella genus and eggs of the helminths Ascaris spp.