Abstract The aim of is study was to evaluate the occurrence and parasitological profile of contamination in crisp lettuce marketed in Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil. A total of 139 samples were collected from 45 supermarkets across 17 neighborhoods and analyzed using a spontaneous sedimentation technique, with identification based on morphological and morphometric criteria. Overall, 35.25% (49/139; 95% CI: 27.3–43.9) of the samples were positive for at least one parasitic structure, including coccidian oocysts (16.5%), larvated nematode eggs (12.2%), strongylid-type eggs (5.0%), and Toxocara spp. (1.4%). Morphometric analysis revealed significant variations in length and width among the detected parasitic structures (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001), supporting their differentiation. These results suggest that the contamination of lettuce by parasites remains a significant food safety concern and highlight the importance of adequate hygiene practices and surveillance along the production and retail chain.
SCHEIS et al. (2026) studied this question.