Project Title: Parasite Contamination And Transmission In Selected
Agricultural Farms In Laguna And Quezon Provinces
Towards The Improvement Of Control Strategies For Food
Safety
Project No.: E-233
Scientific Division: V - Biological Sciences
Project Leader:
Vachel Gay Velasco Paller
Implementing Agency: University of the Philippines - Los Baños
Project Description:
The Philippines is still primarily an agricultural country despite the plan to make it an industrialized economy. Most Filipinos still live in rural areas and support themselves through agriculture. Farming is one of the country’s agriculture sectors. In recent years, however, outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to farm produce such as fruits and vegetables have become more common. Outbreaks related to parasites have been linked to Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Entamoeba, Cyclospora, and other soil transmitted helmints such as Ascaris, Trichiuris, etc. (Kendall, 2012). Changes in the dynamics of these pathogens contribute to this increase, as well as changes in growing, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption practices. With the focus of new-age farming system shifting to more organic means as opposed to the conventional ways, there is a need to reassess the susceptibility of farm produce to contamination which may have implications on food safety and public health.
In recent years, an increasing number of researches in the Philippines have focused on investigations on prevalence of parasitic infections in humans (Ng, et al, 2014, Belizario, et al, 2011, Belizario, et al, 2001). However, we need a deeper knowledge and understanding about the dynamics of parasite transmission and the extent of contamination in our present changing environment. Our research team has conducted investigations on the extent of parasite contamination in the environment and the risk factors that have contributed to their transmission. Understanding and unravelling these dynamics and processes can undoubtedly aid in the prevention and control of parasite infections in the country. It is also for these reasons that parasitology is a field of growing importance. Combining parasitologists’ knowledge and expertise with microbiologists, agriculturists, veterinarians, ecologists, environmental scientists, and health experts through interdisciplinary R&D will remedy the interlocking emerging threats and problems in agriculture, food safety and public health. The goal of this project is to determine extent of parasite contamination in agricultural soils and farm produce in the Philippines, particularly in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon; and assess their transmission dynamics and risk factors with implications to food safety and public health.
Period Covered:
05/01/2018 - 04/30/2020
Duration: 24 months
Status: Ongoing
Status: Ongoing
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