Isolation and Identification of Bacteria Diversity on Artificial and Natural Fingernails

Student: Oluwaseun Precious Oluwasola (Project, 2025)
Department of Microbiology
Bamidele Olumilua University of Edu. Science and Tech. Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State

Abstract

The study investigates the isolation and identification of bacterial species present in natural and artificial nails, aiming to assess different bacterial diversity owing to the fact that it is used in scratching different part of the body. Finger-nail swabs were collected using sterile swab sticks from above and underneath natural and artificial nails. The samples were cultured on nutrient agar, and colony characteristics such as shape, elevation, margin, surface, and color were recorded. Biochemical assays, including Gram staining, catalase, coagulase, oxidase, and indole tests, were performed to confirm the identity of the isolates. The morphological analysis revealed distinct bacterial characteristics, with colonies ranging from no definite to regular shape; raised to entire; undulate to entire; rough to smooth; and white to cream. The samples collected tested positive and negative to biochemical test revealing the presence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Neisseria meningitides, Mycrobacterium, and Micrococcus luteus. This findings showed that artificial fingernails harboured more microbes than the natural fingernails. The use of artificial nails should be discouraged. Keywords: Fingernails, contaminant, pathogen, morphology

Keywords
Bacterial diversity - Artificial fingernails - Natural fingernails - Nail hygiene - Microbial isolation - Bacteria identification - Nail microbiota - Fingernail bacteria
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