PARASITES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM SOME MARKETS IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Raw and cooked fruits and vegetables are integrated into daily meals, playing a substantial role in promoting good health. Despite their numerous benefits, these foods can harbor parasites of public health implications. This aim of this study was to investigate the parasites in fruit and vegetables from some markets in Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 90 samples made up of 30 each of carrot (Daucus carota), beetroot (Beta vulgaris), and tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) were examined and 61 (67.78%) were contaminated with one or more parasites. Beetroot was the most contaminated with a prevalence of 90.0% parasite contamination. This was followed by carrot (63.33%) and tomatoes (50.0%). This difference in parasite prevalence amongst the different samples was significantly different (p< 0.05). Eggs (ova) and larvae of parasites, and unidentified zooplankton were recovered from the fruits and vegetables. Among the parasites recovered were Cestoda (Diphyllobothrium latum and Taenia sp.), Trematoda (Dicrocoelium dendriticum and unidentified trematode), and Nematoda (Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm), Hookworm, and Strongyloides stercoralis) Ascaris lumbricoides had the highest prevalence (38.89%) of parasite contamination.