Microorganisms Associated With Naira Currency
Student: Chinecherem Anita Umeh (Project, 2025)
Department of Microbiology
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State
Abstract
Microbialtransmission,onthesurfaceofanycurrencynote,caneitherbethroughdirect(hand-to- handcontact)orindirect(foodorotherinanimateobjects)means.Toascertainthedegreeofbacterialload enumeratedduringthehandlingofmoneyandfooditems,particularlyoncurrencynotebydenominations ,shouldbeofpublichealthimportance.Despitetheavailableliteratureregardingmicrobialcontaminatio nofNigeriancurrencynotes,thereisstillpaucityofinformationabouthowmicrobialcontaminationdiffe rsacrossthedenominations.Thisstudywasundertakentoinvestigatemicroorganismsassociatedwithna iracurrencyinregardtopublichealth.Twentyfivedifferentnairacurrenciesrangingfrom20,100,200,50 0nairaandmintscurrency,whichwasusedasacontrol.ThenoteswerecollectedfromKekeriders,roadsid efoodvendors,Motorcycleriders,roadsidepettytraders,andlocalmarkettraders.Thenoteswerechosen onthebasisofdenominationsandphysicalappearance(Mint,Neat,dirty,verydirtyandmutilated).Thecu rrencieswereevaluatedformicrobialcontaminationusingNutrientAgar(NA)andSabouraudDextrose Agar(SDA)viapourplatetechnique.Themicrobialisolateswerecharacterizedbasedonmacroscopy,mi croscopy,biochemicalfeatures,andlactophenolcottonbluestainingforfungi.Thelowerdenominations :20and100yieldedhighermicrobialgrowthasrevealedintheColonyFormingUnitpermilliliter(CFU/ mL);6X102and4X102,respectively.ThebacterialspeciesidentifiedwereStaphylococcusaureus,Esc herichiacoli,Pseudomonasaeruginosawhileayeast- likeCandidaspecieswasalsoidentified.ThemostcommonbacteriumidentifiedwasStaphylococcusau reusfrom20naira,whichalsoharboredallthebacteriaandfungusisolatedinthisstudy.Thisstudyhasreve aledthatlowerdenominationofcurrencyismorecontaminatedduetoitshighusageintransactionandcare lessnessofthehandlers.Thepresenceofpathogenicbacteriaandyeastposesathreattomankindintermsof publichealthevaluation.Itisthereforeadvisedthatmoneyshouldbehandledinamannerthatdoesnotgetc ontaminatedwithdirt,disease-causingagentsorbecomeundulymutilated
Keywords
For the full publication, please contact the author directly at: anitachinecherem8@gmail.com
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Institutions
- Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State 1
- Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State 1
- Lens Polytechnic, offa, Kwara State. 215
- Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State 20
- Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State 2
- Mcpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State 1
- Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Owhrode, Delta State 1
- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike 43
- Michael Otedola Col of Primary Educ. Epe, Lagos (affl To University of Ibadan) 8
- Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State 15