PREVALENCE OF AIR MICROFLORA ON NIGERIAN CURRENCY

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the prevalence of air microflora on Nigerian currency notes which were randomly collected from individuals within Umudike. A total of 10 pieces of Naira notes (2 pieces of each of the denominations of N10, N20, N50, N100, and N200) were randomly collected from individuals within Umudike. Samples were collected in sterile leather bags using disposable sterile hand gloves. These were immediately taken to the laboratory for analysis. A total of five (5) bacteria and two(2) fungal strains were obtained. The details of these isolates include; Bacillus sp, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp, Escherichia coli, and klebsiella sp, Aspergillus flavus, and Rhizopus stolonifer. The total heterotrophic plate count ranged from 3.2 × 105cfu/ml to 6.6 × 105 cfu/ml with the 10 naira note giving the highest mean count of 6.6 × 105 cfu/ml whereas the 200 naira note had the lowest mean count of 3.2 × 105cfu/ml. The coliform plate count ranged from 3.9 × 105cfu/ml to 6.2 × 105cfu/ml with the 100 naira note giving the highest mean count of 6.2 × 105cfu/ml whereas the 50 naira note had the lowest mean count of 3.9 × 105cfu/ml. The total fungal plate count ranged from 3.1 × 105cfu/ml to 4.8 × 105cfu/ml with the 50 naira note currency giving the highest mean count of 4.8 × 105cfu/ml whereas the 20 naira note currency had the lowest mean count of 3.1 × 105cfu/ml. It was observed that Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently occurring bacterial isolates from the naira notes with a percentage occurrence of (33.3%), followed by Bacillus sp with a percentage occurrence of (26.7%), then Escherichia coli with a percentage occurrence of (20.0%) and Klebsiella sp with a percentage occurrence of (13.0%), whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa has the least percentage occurrence of (6.7%). In that same sequence, Aspergillus flavus is the most frequently occurring fungal isolates from the naira notes with a percentage occurrence of (75.0%) whereas Rhizopus stolonizer has the least percentage occurrence of (25.0%). From the result of the present study, The likelihood of contacting infections due to contact with naira notes is high considering the microbial count gotten in the study. It can be recommended that people should improve their personal health consciousness by washing hands after handling of money notes and avoiding using saliva during counting of paper money notes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                                 i

Certification                                                                                                                           iii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                  v

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vi

List of Tables                                                                                                                          ix

Abstract                                                                                                                                  x

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction                                                                                                                1

1.1       Aims and Objectives                                                                                                  2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Literature Review                                                                                                       3

2.1       The Nigerian Currency                                                                                               3         

2.2       Air Microflora                                                                                                            3

2.3       Micro Organisms Associated with Airborne Contaminations                                    4

2.3.1    Bacteria Example                                                                                                       4

2.3.2    Fungi Example                                                                                                           5

2.3.3    Virus Example                                                                                                            5

2.4       Factors That Affect the Air Microflora                                                                      5

2.4.1    Temperature                                                                                                               5

2.4.2    Relative Humidity                                                                                                      5

2.4.3    Microbes                                                                                                                     6

2.4.4    Chemicals                                                                                                                   7

2.4.5    Radiation                                                                                                                    7

2.4.6    Oxygen, OAFs, and Ions                                                                                            8

2.5       Bioaerosol Control                                                                                                     8

2.5.1    Ventilation                                                                                                                  9

2.5.2    Filtration                                                                                                                     9

2.5.3    Biocidal Control                                                                                                         10

CHAPTER THREE

3.0       Materials and Method                                                                                                 11

3.1       Study Area                                                                                                                  11

3.2       Collection of Samples                                                                                                11

3.3       Sterilization of Materials                                                                                            11

3.4       Preparation of Culture Media                                                                                     11

3.5       Preparation of Sample and Inoculation of Samples                                                   12

3.6       Purification of Isolates                                                                                               12

3.7       Identification of Bacterial Isolates                                                                             12

3.7.1    Gram Staining                                                                                                            13

3.7.2    Biochemical Test                                                                                                        13

3.7.2.1 Indole test                                                                                                                   13

3.7.2.2 Methyl red (MR)                                                                                                         14

3.7.2.3 Voges proskauer (VP)                                                                                                14

3.7.2.4 Hydrogen sulphide test (H₂S)                                                                                     14

3.7.2.5 Citrate test                                                                                                                   14

3.7.2.6 Urease test                                                                                                                  15

3.7.2.7 Catalase test                                                                                                                15

3.7.2.8 Coagulase test                                                                                                             15

3.7.2.9 Sugar fermentation test                                                                                               15

3.7.2.10 Starch test                                                                                                                 16

3.8       Identification of Fungal Isolates                                                                                 16

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0       Results                                                                                                                        17

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation                                                          34

5.1       Discussion                                                                                                                   34

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                                  38

5.3       Recommendation                                                                                                       38

            References                                                                                                                  39

LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

The Naira note is the official currency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, issued and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). According to CBN, the expected lifespan of the Naira notes is 24 months but the mishandling reduces this to less than 6 months. The abused Naira note denotes the currency, which had been fairly long (not more than 24 months) in circulation, mishandled, structurally disfigured, literally mutilated and for most of the time they are dirty. Incidentally, abused Naira notes were reported as vehicles of bacterial, mold and other parasitic infections and agents of cross contamination (Awodi et al., 2001).

Paper and polymer currency notes are extensively used in barter and trade (exchange for goods and services), settlement of debts and for deferred payments in economic activities. Daily transactions have made the naira note to pass through many hands and pathogens become imposed on them before they are finally deposited in banks (Awodi et al., 2000). In Nigeria, the naira notes presently in circulation are abused by the different ways they are handled and stored which may include but not limited to squeezing, spraying, stapling, cello-taping, keeping naira notes in brassiere, socks and pockets, under the carpet or rugs, writings on them etc. However, there is well documented evidence suggesting that currency notes could act as fomites with enormous potential to carry microbes. The contamination of the naira notes could be from several sources, it could be from the atmosphere, during storage, usage, handling or production (Ogba, 2007). The contaminated currency notes go in circulation and contaminate the hands of others and across borders transmitting microorganisms in the process since money is not screened for microbes (Pope et al., 2002). Most of these organisms are pathogenic while others are normal flora of the human skin; however, some e.g. S. aureus and P. aeroginosa can be opportunistic pathogens. This suggests that the notes could serve as formites for some infectious agents. These routes of transmission are of great importance in the health of many populations in developing countries, where the frequency of infection is a general indication of local hygiene and environmental sanitation levels.

The survival of various microorganisms on money and other fomites, with their transmission via the hands of market men and women and other users is often overlooked as enteric disease reservoir (Michaels, 2002). Pathogenic microorganisms that may survive on currency notes may serve as a potential source of enteropathogens (Michaels, 2002; Cardoen et al., 2009; Lamichhane et al., 2009). Contamination of objects by pathogenic microorganisms is of much public health concern as contaminated meat, butcher’s hands, utensils, tables and the exchange of currency can be sources of transmitting pathogens. In addition, currency notes have also been evaluated for their potential to transmit infectious pathogens like Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichuris trichiura and Taenia species. Carrier micro-organisms apart from reducing the lifespan of the notes, have been documented to cause infections in the skin, eye, gastrointestinal tract, internal organs (Yildiran et al., 2006), as well as the respiratory tract (Denning, 2006) in humans. Microorganisms such as Micrococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp., Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and members of the Enterobacteriacea family top the list subsequently.

1.1       AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of air microflora on Nigerian currency

The objectives are;

1.     To isolate bacteria and fungi present on the Nigerian currency.

2.     To identify the isolated microorganisms associated with Nigerian currency

3.     To determine the percentage occurrence of isolates.

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