MICROBIAL EVALUATION OF SOME READY-TO­ EAT FRUITS SOLD IN UMUGUMA MARKET OWERRI IMO STATE

Fruits are excellent sources of essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and antioxidants, which play significant roles in maintaining human health and preventing various diseases. Despite these nutritional benefits, fruits can serve as vehicles for the transmission of parasitic infections when contaminated through poor handling, environmental exposure, or unsafe processing practices. In this study, some locally available fruits—garden egg, orange, apple, banana, watermelon, pawpaw, pineapple, cucumber, and avocado pear—sold in Obinze, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, were examined for parasitological contamination. A total of 27 samples comprising nine different types of fruits were analyzed using sedimentation and concentration methods. The sampling sites included three major locations: Obinze Market, FUTO Junction, and Mami Market axis. Results obtained from Obinze Market showed that garden egg and cucumber had the highest contamination rate of 18.75%, while orange and apple had the lowest contamination rate of 6.25%. Banana, watermelon, pawpaw, pineapple, and avocado pear each recorded a contamination rate of 12.5%. Samples collected from FUTO Junction indicated that garden egg, watermelon, pawpaw, and avocado pear had contamination rates of 16.6% each, while pineapple had the highest contamination rate of 33.3%. However, orange, apple, banana, and cucumber showed no detectable contamination. In Mami Market, banana, pawpaw, cucumber, and avocado pear recorded contamination rates of 11.1% each, while garden egg, watermelon, and pineapple had higher contamination rates of 22.2%. Orange and apple showed no contamination. The parasites identified in this study included cysts of Cystoisospora belli, Entamoeba histolytica, and ova of Ascaris lumbricoides. Among the fruits examined, garden egg and pineapple showed the highest level of contamination across the study locations. The findings of this study reveal a significant level of parasitic contamination in fruits sold within the study area. This contamination may have resulted from poor hygiene practices during harvesting, transportation, and marketing, as well as the use of contaminated water for washing fruits by vendors. Exposure to environmental contaminants such as dust, flies, and other vectors also contributes to the presence of parasites on fruits displayed openly for sale. The public health implications of these findings suggest that fruits sold in Umuguma, Owerri West L.G.A., may serve as vehicles for food-borne infections if consumed without proper washing. Therefore, there is a need for increased public health awareness and education of both vendors and consumers on the importance of proper hygiene practices, including the use of clean water for washing fruits and safe handling from the point of purchase to consumption.