Fruit and Vegetable Contamination with Medically Important Geohelminths and Gastrointestinal Protozoa in Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the level of fruits and vegetable contamination with medically important geohelminths and gastrointestinal protozoan parasites in Oyi Local Government Area. A total of 600 fruits and vegetables were purchased from the daily markets located in five communities in the study area in the morning hours from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. They were washed with saline water and examined microscopically for helminths and gastrointestinal protozoan parasites by sedimentation method. Out of 276 geohelminth parasites recovered, fruits samples from Ogbunike community recorded the highest 76 (63.3%) followed by Umunya and Nteje, 60 (50.0%) and 52 (43.3%) respectively. Fruits from Umunya had the highest prevalence of gastrointestinal protozoa 38 (31.7%), followed by Nkwellezunaka, 26 (21.7%) and Nteje 24 (20%). There was a non-significant difference (P-value 0.90 > 0.05) between the number of communities infected and the prevalence of geohelminths and gastrointestinal protozoan parasites. 291 parasites were discovered from vegetables while 276 were discovered from fruits. Ascaris larva was the commonest with a value of 336 (56%) in fruits and vegetables followed by hookworm, 158 (26.33%) and Trichuris 73 (12.16%). E. histolytica was the most prevalent with a value of 148 (24.66%), G. lamblia 66 (10.99%) and C. parvum 26 (4.33%). Psidium guavana (guava) was the most infected with a value of 29 (61.40%), followed Solanium melogena (garden egg) 68 (41.8%), Pyrus communis (local pear) 57 (37.4%). For gastrointestinal protozoan parasites, Magnifera spp (mango) was the most infected 60 (40%), Psidium guavana 32 (20.6%) and local pear 17 (10.40%). E. histolytica was the commonest, 78 (50.3%), followed by G. lamblia, 37(24.50%), C. parvum 14 (8.4%). Garden egg vegetable was most contaminated 77 (53.5%), Amaranthus (green) 73 (48.25) and T. triangulare 68 (45.3%). Ascaris was the most prevalent in vegetables 146 (95.6%), followed by Hookworm 113 (71.3%) and the least was T. trichiura 38 (26.2%). A statistically significant association between the types of vegetable and fruits and the presence of parasites was observed (P = 0.002). Fruits and vegetables sold in the study area may play a role in the transmission of intestinal parasitic infections to humans. Effective prevention measures should be taken to ensure food safety. Relevant bodies should work on addressing the issue of a high rate of vegetable and fruit contamination in the study area.

Keywords: geohelminth, gastrointestinal protozoa, fruits, vegetables, sedimentation