Health impacts of some fungal communities found on the surface of selected citrus fruits from Bwari market Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Fruits are in great demand since they are nutrient-dense. For this reason, it becomes highly essential to create more in the shortest amount of time in order to keep up with the always-rising demand. As a result, there has been a significant chance that these fruits may become contaminated with harmful microbes, raising concerns about consumer safety. This study sought to ascertain the potential health effects of fruit contamination by fungal species found on the fruit surfaces, as there is currently insufficient information in this area. Three (3) species of Citrus (CF) which include; lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.), Chinese orange or sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck), and key lime or lime (Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle) were randomly bought from different hawkers at different parts of Bwari market in Abuja, Nigeria. From the studies, five different fungal species were identified and they include: Penicillium spp Trichophyton spp, Aspergillus spp, Candida spp and Rhizopus spp. This demonstrated that fungi exist in all environments and that handling fruits improperly can have serious negative health impacts on people since some of these fungi are pathogenic. A number of approaches, such as washing fruits in vinegar water, have been found to be very effective in reducing microbial infection. Other washing methods, such as using saltwater, also work well. Additionally, it is a good idea to regularly replace the water used to wash those fruits in order to prevent cross-contamination while handling.