Prevalence Of Intestinal Parasites In Fresh Produce Sold In Local Market And Roadside Stands In The Suburb Of El Harrach, Algiers Province, Algeria: A Pilot Aestival Cross-Sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64252/vgzga034Keywords:
Public health; Food safety; Foodborne diseases; Intestinal Parasites; Protozoa; Helminths; Prevalence; contamination pattern; retail outlets; El Harrach; AlgeriaAbstract
Background: The transmission of intestinal parasites via contaminated produce is a recognized global issue. However, there is a scarcity of research on prevalence rate and complexity of intestinal parasiticcontamination in different Algerian retail outlets.The main aim of this study was to fill this gap by assessing the prevalence and the complexity of thiscontaminationin aestival producewithin El Harrach suburb of Algiers province, a climate vulnerability hotspot.
Methods: A total of 384 produce samples, composed of14 botanical families, 28 species and 4 subspecies, were acquired from market and various roadside stands in El Harrach suburb. Standard diagnostic protocol was used to detect and identify the parasites found in the examined produce. Data underwent statistical analysis using R software (version 4.5.1) and the RStudio (version 2025.05.1+513).
Results: An overall prevalence (23,2%) of parasitic contamination was found in the 384produce samples. The Bicontamination pattern had the highest prevalence (8.9%). Vegetable category demonstrated a significantly (p<0.05) higher contamination prevalence (17.7%). Cucurbitaceae family showed a substantially (p<0.05) higher prevalence (7,6 %). Prevalence rates were significantly (p<0.05) higher (2.6 %) in Lactuca sativa (species) and Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla (subspecies). There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the prevalence of intestinal parasitic contamination across the different sampling locations. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent parasite species (23,2%). Prevalence rates of intestinal parasitic contamination among the identified Protozoan and Helminths parasite species were not significantly different (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence and the complexity of intestinal parasitic contamination in aestival produce sold in El Harrach suburb of Algiers province represent a substantial public health risk.
