FOODBORNE ILLNESSES

CAUSED BY PARASITES
DR. MYLENE C. DELA CRUZ RND, LPT
• Foodborne parasites are among the common foodborne
biological hazards. Parasites are microscopic creatures that
need to live on or inside a host to survive. Parasites can be
found in irrigation water, animal feces, muscle tissues of
improperly fed cattle and swine, and fish muscles. Humans can
become infected when undercooked meat and fish are
consumed.
• There are several examples of parasites that can come in
contact with food and cause foodborne illnesses. Parasitic
infection is far less common than bacterial or viral foodborne
illnesses.
Anisakis spp

• Description: Anisakis spp. Are

nematodes (roundworms) that
have been associated with
foodborne infection from fish.
The worms are about 1 to 1 ½
inches long and have a
diameter similar to human hair.
They can be beige, ivory white,
gray, brown, or pink. Other
names for this parasite are cod
worm and herring worm.
• Types of Illness: Parasitic infection
• Symptoms and Onset time: If the worms attach themselves to the lining
of the stomach, the typical symptoms are vomiting and abdominal pain.
Coughing is the most common symptoms if the worms attach themselves
to the throat. When they stick to the intestine, they produce sharp pain
and fever, symptoms similar to those produced by appendicitis
• Common food: Anisakis spp. Cause foodborne diseases through
the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood. The most
common seafood that can harbor parasites are cod, haddock, fluke,
salmon, herring, flounder, and monkfish. Cerviche or fresh seafood
salads are also known to carry this parasite.

• Transmission in food: this parasite is transferred in the water where

the marine animal lives. Humans become accidental hosts upon
eating the infected fish. Humans do not make good hosts for the
parasites as worms cannot complete their life cycle inside their
human hosts. This parasite may also be transferred to other foods
by improper food handling.
Cryptosporidium parvum

• Description: Cryptosporidium
parvum is a single-celled
microorganism called protozoa.
They cancause foodborne
infections and can be found in
water that has been contaminated
with cow feces. Drinking water
contaminated with high levels of
runoff from farms or
slaughterhouses have been
implicated in outbreak caused by
this parasite.
• Types of Illness: Parasitic infection
• Symptoms and Onset time: The most common
symptom of intestinal cryptosporidiosis is
severe watery diarrhea which can last for two to
four days. The onset is within one week of
ingestion.
• Common food: This parasite is most commonly
associated with the consumption of contaminated
water. Raw foods that are in contact with
contaminated water, especially raw vegetables,
can also be contaminated
• Transmission in Food: This parasite is
transmitted from contaminated water supply,
person-to-person contact, and fecal
contamination.
• Prevention: Handle and cook foods properly. Use
potable water supply. Observe good personal
hygiene and proper hand washing.
Trichinella spiralis

• Description: Trichinella spiralis

is a foodborne roundworm that
can cause parasitic infection. It
can be found in an infected
fleshy muscle and is eaten by
certain meat-eating animals;
these animals then transmit it to
a new host.

• Types of Illness: Parasitic

infection
• Symptoms and Onset time: The early symptoms of
trichinosis are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and
adbominal pain. Later stages of the disease are
characterized by fever, swelling of tissues around the
eyes, and muscle stiffness. The onset time is 2-28
days after eating the contaminated meat. Death may
occur in severe cases.

• Common food: Pork is by far the most common food

that carries the Trichinella spiralis, although it can
also be found in wild animals such as bear and wild
boar meat.
• Transmission in food: This parasite is inherently carried by meat-eating
or scavenger animals. It is generally thought that its possible route to the
animals is through the latter’s consumption of infected tissues from other
animals and garbage.

• Prevention: Cook pork until it has no pinkish tinge anymore. Always

cook meat properly.
Entamoeba histolytica

• Description: This is a single-

celled parasitic animal that
predomominantly infects
humans and other primates.
Diverse mammals, such as dogs
and cats, can become infected
but they usually do not shed
cysts (environmental survival
form of the organism) with their
feces, thus they do not
contribute significantly to
transmission.
• The active (trophozoite) stage exists only in the host and in
fresh feces; cysts survive outside the host in water, soil, and
foods, especially under moist conditions in the latter. When
swallowed they cause infections by excysting (to the
trophozoite stage) in the digestive tract.
Amoebas remain in the gastrointestinal tract of its host. Severe
ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosal surfaces occurs in
less than 16% of cases. In fewer cases, the parasite invades the
soft tissues, most commonly the liver. Masses formed that lead
to intestinal obstruction are rare and fatalities are infrequent.
• Types of Illness: Parasitic infection
• Symptoms and Onset time: Symptoms of
amoebiasis include amoebic dysentery with
fever, chilis, and sometimes, liver abscess. The
onset of illness is two to four weeks, although it
can last much longer.
• Common food: Raw and mishandled food,
especially those with fecal contamination are
sources of the parasites.
• Transmission in food: These parasites are
transmitted from sewage contaminated water
supply and food, through person-to-person
contact, and by fecal contamination.
• Prevention: Practices safe food handling, and
personal, sanitary hygiene. Handle and cook
food thoroughly.
Ascaris lumbricoides

• Description: Ascaris
lumbricoides infections in
humans occur when an ingested
infective egg release a larval
worm that penetrates the wall
of the duodenum and enters the
bloodstream. It is carried to the
liver and heart, enters the
pulmonary circulation, and
breaks free in the alveoli, where
it grows and molts.
• In three weeks, the larvae pass from the respiratory system to be coughed
up, swallowed, and returned to the small intestine, where they mature to
adult male and female worms. Infections with these parasites are
common where sanitation is poor and human feces are used as fertilizer.

• Types of Illness: parasitic infection

• Symptoms and Onset time: Symptoms of
ascariasis include pneumonitis and bowel
obstruction. The onset of illness is about ten days
to eight weeks and lasts for one to two years.
• Common food: Eggs and other food soiled by
feces are carriers of this parasite
• Transmission in food: These parasites are
transmitted from sewage-contaminated water
supply, through person-to-person contact, and by
fecal contamination
• Prevention: Ensure that food handlers practice
good, personal hygiene. Thoroughly wash
produce with potable water and cook food
thoroughly. Dispose waste sanitarily.
Taenia Saginata and Taenia Solium

• Description: Taenia saginata

(beef tapeworm) and Taenia
solium (pork tapeworm) are
parasitic worms (helminths).
Taeniasis is the intestinal
infection caused by adult-
stage tapeworms.
Cysticercosis, on the other
hand, is the tissue infection
caused by the larval-stage of
the pork tapeworm.
• It is interesting to note that humans are the definitive hosts of
both organisms. This means that the reproductive cycle, egg
production by the organisms, occurs only in humans. Eggs are
passed in human feces and may be shed into the environment
for as long as the worms remain in the intestines, which can be
for as long as 30 years. In addition, the eggs may remain viable
in the environment for many months.

• Types of Illness: Parasitic infection

• Symptoms and Onset time: Common symptoms of tapeworm
infection are digestive disturbances, worm segments in stool, and
cysticercosis of muscles, organ, heart, or brain. The onset of the
infection is 10-14 weeks while the illness can lasts for up to 20
years.
• Common food: Raw and undercooked beef and raw and
undercooked pork are the common sources of the parasites.
• Transmission in food: These parasites are transmitted through the
ingestion of undercooked beef and pork infected with tapeworm.
• Prevention: Thoroughly cook beef and pork. Practice good
personal hygiene and apply good standards of general sanitation.