Análisis de la contaminación por el parásito Cryptosporidium en fresas (Fragaria × ananassa) comercializados en el Mercado Central del Cantón Ambato, Ecuador

Abstract

The microbiological safety of fresh fruits intended for raw consumption, such as strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa), is essential for public health, especially in regions with limited surveillance of parasitic pathogens. Cryptosporidium spp. is a protozoan of global importance due to its environmental resistance and its ability to cause severe diarrhea invulnerable populations. Its potential presence in food represents a silent transmission route, making it necessary to assess contamination at points of direct sale to consumers to generate local evidence that guides sanitary control policies. This study analyzed strawberry samples collected at the Central Market of Ambato using an integrated methodology. The Sheather sucrose solution flotation technique was applied for concentration and preliminary microscopic observation of oocysts, complemented by molecular confirmation using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene, ensuring specificity in detection. The results showed the absence of Cryptosporidium spp. in all samples, ruling out its presence at detectable levels. Although favorable for immediate risk, this finding underscores the need to maintain good agricultural and post-harvest handling practices, reinforce domestic washing, and consolidate molecular surveillance as a key tool for future research in the local food chain.