Human Enteric Parasitic Pathogens in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Consumed in Ile-Ife, Osun State

The degree of parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables consumed in Ile-Ife was assessed and poly parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables was identified. This was with the view to providing information on contamination of fruits and vegetables consumed in the study area. A total of 350 samples of fruits and vegetables were bought from five markets in Ile-Ife between November 2015 and January 2016. The samples were analyzed using sedimentation and floatation technique for detection of parasites. A total of 244 (69.7%) of the fruits and vegetables sampled were positive for eggs, cysts or oocysts of parasites. Among the fruits, tomatoes had the highest number 18 (50%) of parasites while the lowest 8 (25%) was on apples. Four of the vegetables (water leaf, spinach, white jute and African spinach) showed equal degree of parasitic contamination which was 100% while cabbage had the lowest 22 (64.7%). The overall prevalence of isolated parasites from 350 samples of fruits and vegetables investigated in this study was: ova of E. vermicularis 64 (18.29%); ova of A. lumbricoides 31 (8.86%); cysts of E. histolytica 18 (5.14%); cysts of G. lambila 19 (5.42%); ova of hookworms 8 (2.29%); cysts of E. coli 27 (7.71%); oocysts of C. cayetenensis 17 (4.86%); cysts of B. coli 29 (8.29%); ova of Teaniaspp 15 (4.29%). All fruits and vegetables sampled from various markets showed the presence of more than one parasite on them. The leafy vegetables showed higher poly-parasitic contamination than the fruits. Majority of vendors (92%) displayed produce on the table uncovered. There was a positive correlation between the number of fruits and vegetables sampled and the number of parasites retrieved (r = 0.358, P= 0.016). This study concluded that fruits and vegetables sold in the study area were contaminated with parasites that can cause food borne illnesses in consumers, which is of public health importance. Keywords: Fruits and Vegetables, Parasitic contamination, Sedimentation technique, Floatation technique, Poly parasitic, Public healt