Parasites detected in imported fruits and vegetables in Ulaanbaatar

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, approximately 3.5 billion people are infected with parasites each year, 450 million of which are infected with parasites (protozoa, helminths) and 200,000 die. The spread of parasitic infections is directly related to the population’s living environment, hygiene, drinking water and food safety, and soil pollution. Aim: To detect parasites in imported fruits and vegetables in Ulaanbaatar. Materials and Methods: Samples of fruits and vegetables included in the study were collected by random sampling from two food markets (A, B) in Ulaanbaatar. Fruits and vegetables were placed in a physiological solution, all the species attached to the surface (shell tissue) were precipitated, eggs were floated by floating using a saturated sugar solution, micropreparations were prepared, and the eggs and larvae of parasites were detected. The species completion of parasite eggs and larvae was determined using a key atlas (http://atlas.or.kr/). Results: Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were found in 20% (n=1) of kiwi fruit when examining the presence of parasite eggs and larvae in fruits. However, in 27.04% (n=33) of all vegetables, Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, Strongyloides stercoralis larvae, Toxocara spp eggs and soil Nematode larvae and mite eggs were detected. Conclusion: Ascaris lumbricoides, Toxocara spp eggs, Strongyloides stercoralis, Oesophagostomum, Diapterobates notatus larvae, and Soil mites were found in the imported fruits and vegetables in Ulaanbaatar city, indicating the contamination of imported fruits and vegetables by parasites.