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
- Covenant Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State 1
- Covenant University, Canaan Land, Ota, Ogun State 4
- Crawford University of Apostolic Faith Mission Faith City, Igbesa, Ogun State 2
- Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State 1
- Cross Rivers University of Technology, Calabar, Cross Rivers State 142
- Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State 11
- Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe, Delta State 13
- Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State 139
- Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State 17
- Edo University, Iyamho, Edo State 10