Presencia de parásitos en frutas expendidas en el mercado Feria Libre. Cuenca 2023

Abstract

Background: Human consumption of fruits has been crucial for development and nutrition. Due to constant migration and demographic growth, the transmission of pathogenic agents causing infectious diseases, such as parasites, has spread, and these parasites have been found present in fruits such as strawberries, grapes, and blackberries. Objective: To analyze the presence of parasites in fruits sold at the Feria Libre market. Cuenca, February-June 2023. Methodology: A total of 87 fruit vendors at the Feria Libre market were included in the study, and 261 samples were collected, comprising 87 samples of strawberries, 87 samples of grapes, and 87 samples of blackberries. Identification techniques used included the fresh method, concentration method, and modified Ziehl Neelsen-Kinyoun staining. Data collection was conducted through a survey, and the results were recorded in a digital database. The tabulation and analysis were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 trial version, Microsoft Excel 2016, and Microsoft Word 2016. Results: Out of the 261 samples, 40.59% tested positive for the presence of parasites. Pathogenic parasites predominated, accounting for 60%, with Entamoeba histolytica/dispar being the most frequent. Concerning the sociodemographic data of the vendors, 74.7% were female. In terms of age, 55.2% were adults between 36 and 64 years old, 57.5% resided in urban areas, 58.6% had access to sanitation facilities, and 68.8% obtained drinking water from a public network. Conclusion: A significant frequency of parasites was found in fruits, with blackberries being the most affected. Protozoa were the most prevalent, especially in women aged 36 to 64 years. The presence of parasites is associated with factors such as access to sanitation facilities and the use of bottled water.