Study on parasitic contamination of common edible fruits and vegetables sold in local markets of Tiruchirappalli, South India

Abstract

Fresh fruits and vegetables provide lot of essential supplements to the human health. Intestinal parasitic infections are acquired in different ways including consumption of contaminated fruits, vegetables and water. While eating unclean, raw or undercooked fruits and vegetables, the transmission of intestinal parasitic infections is propagated. A study aimed at determining the prevalence and predictors of parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables collected from local markets in Tiruchirapalli, Tamilnadu was conducted between July and August 2019. Out of the 360 samples examined, parasitic contamination was observed in 19.72% of fruits and vegetables and according to parasite type it was 22.22%. was the most frequent contaminant among the parasites observed as well as among the markets where the samples were collected. Tomatoes, carrot and beetroot were the most frequently contaminated fruits and vegetables and Potato and beetroot were contaminated with diverse types of parasites. Thus, this study recommends for random sampling of the marketing fruits and vegetables for parasitic determination and proper and routine health education should be given to the vendors and order to aware about infectious diseases spreading through their products and practice hygienic methods to clean the surface and environmental sanitation.