Parasitic Contamination of Common Vegetables & Fruits Sold at Uli ,ihiala Local Government Area.

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of parasites that contaminate edible vegetables and fruits sold in (Amamputu market, Center market and Egbe market) all in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State between and July and August, 2024. These vegetables and fruits were produced directly from rural farmers who brought the vegetables and fruits to the markets. They were examined in the laboratory for the presence of parasites using flotation and sedimentation techniques out of 240 vegetables and fruits specimens examined 105 were contaminated thus giving a total prevalence of 43.8%. The parasites isolated were Ascarislumbricoides 60 (74.2%), Entamoebahistolytica 15(38.2%), Hookworm 24(38.2% and Strongyloidesstercoralis 6 (5.5%). The highest parasites contamination was found in water leaf 24(22.8%) and the least on green 16(0.5%) and fluted pumpkin 21 (0.2%) while on fruits garden egg was the highest commination 13 (12.2%) while apple 2 (1.2%) and local pear (0.1%) had the least. Egbe Market (0.48%) was the highest occurrence of parasite and Center market has the least (0.3%). These findings may have important implications for global food safety and emphasize the importance of raw vegetables and fruits in threatening public health by transmission of intestinal parasites to humans in Nigeria individuals and local health authorities should improve the sanitary condition in the areas where vegetables and fruits are cultivated and consumed. Therefore, proper treatment of waste water used for irrigation of vegetables and fruits, improvement of sanitary activities in our market and among vegetables and fruits vendors are recommended.