The consequences of human infection with soil transmitted helminths (geohelminths) is of major
health concern in developing countries. The transmission of such helminths are promoted by
poor sanitation and personal hygiene such as insanitary handling of fruits and vegetables. A
study to ascertain the geohelminths associated with Date palm fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) in
Nigeria was conducted between February and July 2012. One thousand dry Date fruits each was
purchased from three different locations ( eastern, western, northern) of Nigeria. A total of 3000
fruits was acquired. Each of the fruits was washed in 10ml normal saline. Forty to fifty fruits
were washed daily. Formol-ether concentration technique was employed to concentrate the
parasites in the water. Sediments observed were placed on a glass slide and observed
microscopically using x10 and x40 objective lens, for possible parasite ova. Of the 3000 Date
fruits examined, 1057(35.2%) were contaminated with ova of parasites. Of the contaminated
1057 fruits, 701(66.3%) haboured soil transmitted helminths while 356 (33.7%) contained other
parasites. Identified geohelminths include ova of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichura and
Hookworm. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent parasite encountered and this was
statitically significant (p<0.05). The number of fruits contaminated did not vary significantly
(p>0.05) with the regions of Nigeria where the fruits were purchased. Date fruits which is highly
patronized by travellers in Nigeria due to its sweetness, cheapness and high nutritional value are
associated with geohelminths. The dry fruits are often eaten as soon as they are bought by
travellers. The contamination could possibly be as a result of insanitary handling by both
hawkers and buyers, who dip their hands into the fruit heaps in receptacles to select or taste the
fruit before purchase. It is therefore advocated among other measures, that cleaning and washing
of the fruits before consumption will aid in breaking the transmission cycle of these parasites.