부산대학교 도서관

Purpose of Review: Food-borne protozoan parasites are increasingly being reported due to changes in global trends in food practices and eating habits as people adopt healthier lifestyles. Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Cyclospora cayetanensis are gastrointestinal parasites that infect humans and are commonly isolated from fresh produce. These parasites persist in the environment due to their robust infective stages. This review focuses on the transmission of the three parasites from fresh produce, the effects of the parasites on the human host, and suggests possible mitigation measures to prevent food-borne transmission.Recent Findings: Recent reports indicate that food-borne transmission of the protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Cyclospora cayetanensis, which was previously reported in areas where people commonly eat raw vegetables, has now spread to other areas previously unreported. The spectrum of contaminated food items has also increased because of different food preparation practices in various geographical locations. This has led to increased risk of infection and reports of food-borne outbreaks of disease associated with the parasites.Summary: Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Cyclospora cayetanensis are prevalent in fresh produce, share transmission pathways, and sources of infection. The parasites can also share interventions such as health education to create awareness, improved water and sanitation in endemic areas, surveillance of the parasites in fresh produce and inclusion of the parasites in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans of sectors that produce and supply fresh produce to ensure a holistic approach to infection prevention and control.