Prevalence, Pattern and Predictors of Clinically Important Parasites Contaminating Raw Vegetables and Fruits in Ethiopia: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal BMC Infect Dis

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2024 Oct 12

PMID 39395940

Authors

Zelalem Animaw

Addisu Melese

Dereje Bedane

Bedemariam Tadesse

Dawit Degarege

Finot Admasu

Mihretu Jegnie

Bottieau Emmanuel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There is a growing concern regarding food safety, with the potential presence of parasitic pathogens in raw produce globally. Contaminated fruits and vegetables can be sources of various parasitic infections imposing significant health consequences for general population, particularly, vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, young children, and immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, the aim of this meta-analysis is to systematically assess and synthesize the available evidence on the magnitude of parasitic contamination in raw fruits and vegetables obtained from local markets in Ethiopia.

Methods: Thoroughly search of published and unpublished studies was conducted in the databases of MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Cochrane library and Science Direct. PRISMA checklist was strictly followed to select potential studies. Microsoft Excel 2016 sheet template was employed to extract the data. Quality of included studies was assessed by using the Newcastle - Ottawa Scale. STATA software version 14.0 was used to compute the estimated pooled prevalence. Heterogeneity among included studies was assessed using percentage of variance (I) and P-value.

Results: Thirteen studies with a total sample size of 3769 fruits and vegetables were included. The pooled prevalence of parasitic contamination in raw fruits and vegetables with at least one parasite in Ethiopia is 43.38% (95% CI: [36.64, 50.12]). The highest pooled prevalence of contamination with at least one parasite is reported from Oromia region, 51.95% (95% CI: [40.53, 63.37]). The most prevalent parasite is strongyloides stercoralis, followed by Toxocara spp., G. lamblia and A. lumbricoides. The most contaminated vegetables with at least one parasites is spinach followed by cabbage and lettuce. Banana has emerged to be the most frequently contaminated fruit with a contamination prevalence of 38.34% (95% CI: [1.84, 56.83]). Being unwashed fruits and vegetables, placement of the products and literacy status of the sellers are significantly associated with the occurrence of parasitic contamination.

Conclusions: The result of this study showed that contamination of raw fruits and vegetables with clinical important parasites is high. Therefore, adequate public awareness on hygienic harvest, storage, placement and consumption shall be created in order to mitigate such a significant public health concern.

References

Liyih M, Damtie D, Tegen D . Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Human Intestinal Helminths Parasitic Infections in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ScientificWorldJournal. 2022; 2022:3905963. PMC: 9451958. DOI: 10.1155/2022/3905963. View

Alemu G, Nega M, Alemu M . Parasitic Contamination of Fruits and Vegetables Collected from Local Markets of Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Res Rep Trop Med. 2020; 11:17-25. PMC: 7127876. DOI: 10.2147/RRTM.S244737. View

Klapec T, Borecka A . Contamination of vegetables, fruits and soil with geohelmints eggs on organic farms in Poland. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2012; 19(3):421-5. View

Karshima S . Parasites of importance for human health on edible fruits and vegetables in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data. Pathog Glob Health. 2018; 112(1):47-55. PMC: 6056831. DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1425604. View

Kudah C, Sovoe S, Baiden F . Parasitic contamination of commonly consumed vegetables in two markets in Ghana. Ghana Med J. 2019; 52(2):88-93. PMC: 6326541. DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v52i2.5. View

Mata L . Sociocultural factors in the control and prevention of parasitic diseases. Rev Infect Dis. 1982; 4(4):871-9. DOI: 10.1093/4.4.871. View

Bekele F, Tefera T, Biresaw G, Yohannes T . Parasitic contamination of raw vegetables and fruits collected from selected local markets in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia. Infect Dis Poverty. 2017; 6(1):19. PMC: 5340032. DOI: 10.1186/s40249-016-0226-6. View

Healy S, Morgan E, Prada J, Betson M . From fox to fork? Toxocara contamination of spinach grown in the south of England, UK. Parasit Vectors. 2023; 16(1):49. PMC: 9896772. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05674-8. View

Eraky M, Rashed S, Nasr M, El-Hamshary A, Salah El-Ghannam A . Parasitic contamination of commonly consumed fresh leafy vegetables in benha, egypt. J Parasitol Res. 2014; 2014:613960. PMC: 4084512. DOI: 10.1155/2014/613960. View

10.

Ali M, Sina A, Khandker S, Neesa L, Tanvir E, Kabir A . Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Tomatoes and Their Impact on Human Health and Disease: A Review. Foods. 2020; 10(1). PMC: 7823427. DOI: 10.3390/foods10010045. View

11.

Alemu G, Mama M, Misker D, Haftu D . Parasitic contamination of vegetables marketed in Arba Minch town, southern Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis. 2019; 19(1):410. PMC: 6515664. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4020-5. View

12.

Zeynudin A, Degefa T, Belay T, Mumicha J, Husen A, Yasin J . Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables and fruits sold in open-air markets in peri-urban areas of Jimma City, Oromia, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2024; 19(3):e0290655. PMC: 10956833. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290655. View

13.

Khan W, Rafiq N, Nawaz M, Kabir M, Farooqi Z, Romman M . Parasitic contamination of fresh vegetables sold in open markets: a public health threat. Braz J Biol. 2021; 82:e242614. DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.242614. View

14.

Punsawad C, Phasuk N, Thongtup K, Nagavirochana S, Viriyavejakul P . Prevalence of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand. BMC Public Health. 2019; 19(1):34. PMC: 6323832. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6358-9. View

15.

Li J, Wang Z, Karim M, Zhang L . Detection of human intestinal protozoan parasites in vegetables and fruits: a review. Parasit Vectors. 2020; 13(1):380. PMC: 7392835. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04255-3. View

16.

Tefera T, Biruksew A, Mekonnen Z, Eshetu T . Parasitic Contamination of Fruits and Vegetables Collected from Selected Local Markets of Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia. Int Sch Res Notices. 2016; 2014:382715. PMC: 4897545. DOI: 10.1155/2014/382715. View

17.

Morgan E, Azam D, Pegler K . Quantifying sources of environmental contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs. Vet Parasitol. 2013; 193(4):390-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.12.034. View

18.

Bekele F, Shumbej T . Fruit and vegetable contamination with medically important helminths and protozoans in Tarcha town, Dawuro zone, South West Ethiopia. Res Rep Trop Med. 2019; 10:19-23. PMC: 6503341. DOI: 10.2147/RRTM.S205250. View

19.

Chen X, Keithly J, Paya C, LaRusso N . Cryptosporidiosis. N Engl J Med. 2002; 346(22):1723-31. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra013170. View

20.

Asfaw T, Genetu D, Shenkute D, Shenkutie T, Amare Y, Yitayew B . Parasitic Contamination and Microbiological Quality of Commonly Consumed Fresh Vegetables Marketed in Debre Berhan Town, Ethiopia. Environ Health Insights. 2023; 17:11786302231154755. PMC: 9926396. DOI: 10.1177/11786302231154755. View