Un Hidden Threats: Fingernails and the Transmission of Food-Borne Parasites – A Literature Review

Hidden Threats: Fingernails and the Transmission of Food-Borne Parasites

Résumé

Foodborne diseases, in particular parasitic diseases, are a substantial economic and health burden worldwide, impacting both developing and developed countries. Every year, millions of occurrences of infections and thousands of deaths occur worldwide due to parasitic diseases transmitted through food. Nails are tough keratin plates that protect the ends of the fingers and toes. It is a component of the integrative system that consists of skin, hair, and nails. In addition, nails serve a variety of purposes such as protection, grip and movement, as a diagnostic aid, and for support. Meanwhile, nails are versatile tools that can be utilized for cutting, scraping, and picking, among other tasks. Nevertheless, they have a significant impact on the spread of food-borne parasites to humans. The study's focus was on nails and their contribution to the transmission of foodborne parasitic diseases, through studying a variety of published studies, research, and statistics.

The current research found that several studies have shown the significant role that nails play in this. This study reported that numerous parasites have been detected in nails, especially in children and individuals working in restaurants, with the most significant being Trichuris trichiura, Taenia saginata,Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, Entamoeba histolytica, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia. The study revealed that trimming nails and practicing personal hygiene are crucial in decreasing the transmission of foodborne parasitic diseases.