González-Ramírez Luisa Carolina, López Cristian Andrés Quito, Silva Verónica Carolin Rojano, Del Rocío Robalino Flores Ximena, Basantes Silvia Paola Monar, Prato José G, Díaz-Godínez César, Carrero Julio César
Grupo de Investigación "Análisis de Muestras Biológicas y Forenses", Laboratorio Clínico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador.
Semillero de Investigación "Parásitos", Laboratorio Clínico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador.
J Parasitol Res. 2025 Mar 3;2025:4620160. doi: 10.1155/japr/4620160. eCollection 2025.
Foodborne diseases, particularly those caused by parasitic infections, pose significant public health challenges globally, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as children. In this study, we investigated the parasitic contamination in 773 samples of fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens from Ecuador's Chimborazo Province. Utilizing a cross-sectional, observational approach, samples were collected from the capital of the Guano canton, Chimborazo Province. The analysis revealed an alarming overall contamination frequency of 74.5%, with leafy greens exhibiting the highest contamination (238/275 [86.5%]), followed by vegetables (130/188 [69.1%]) and fruits (208/310 [67.1%]) ( = 32.793; < 0.0001). Protozoa (71.8%) were four times more prevalent than helminths (16.9%) ( = 471.106; < 0.0001), showing a higher frequency in leafy greens (228/275 [82.9%]) compared to fruits (205/310 [66.1%]) and vegetables (122/188 [64.9%]) ( = 26.113; < 0.0001). In contrast, helminths were more frequently found in vegetables (54/188 [28.7%]) than in leafy greens (49/275 [17.8%]) and fruits (28/310 [9%]) ( = 32.469; < 0.0001). Notably, sp. was the most frequently identified parasite in all types of produce, particularly in fruits (43.5%) and leafy greens (40.7%). These findings underscore the critical need to improve food safety protocols and sanitation practices in agricultural settings to mitigate health risks associated with parasitic infections, especially among children in socioeconomically disadvantaged rural communities.
食源性疾病，尤其是由寄生虫感染引起的疾病，在全球范围内构成了重大的公共卫生挑战，对儿童等弱势群体的影响尤为严重。在本研究中，我们调查了厄瓜多尔钦博拉索省773份水果、蔬菜和绿叶蔬菜样本中的寄生虫污染情况。采用横断面观察方法，从钦博拉索省瓜诺县首府采集样本。分析显示，总体污染频率高达74.5%，令人担忧，其中绿叶蔬菜的污染率最高（238/275 [86.5%]），其次是蔬菜（130/188 [69.1%]）和水果（208/310 [67.1%]）（χ² = 32.793；P < 0.0001）。原生动物（71.8%）的流行率是蠕虫（16.9%）的四倍（χ² = 471.106；P < 0.0001），与水果（205/310 [66.1%]）和蔬菜（122/188 [64.9%]）相比，在绿叶蔬菜中的频率更高（228/275 [82.9%]）（χ² = 26.113；P < 0.0001）。相比之下，在蔬菜中发现蠕虫的频率（54/188 [28.7%]）高于绿叶蔬菜（49/275 [17.8%]）和水果（28/310 [9%]）（χ² = 32.469；P < 0.0001）。值得注意的是，隐孢子虫是所有类型农产品中最常发现的寄生虫，尤其是在水果（43.5%）和绿叶蔬菜（40.7%）中。这些发现强调了迫切需要改进农业环境中的食品安全协议和卫生习惯，以降低与寄生虫感染相关的健康风险，特别是在社会经济地位不利的农村社区中的儿童。
