ABSTARCT

Naira is the Nigerian currency used as the country’s legal tender. Naira notes handled by fish seller, meat seller and among students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture were evaluated for microbial contaminations. Four markets, Ndoro, Ibeku Amawom and Umudike markets and Students within Umuahia metropolis were used for the study.  Four selling point and eighteen (18) denominations of naira from market with eight (8) denomination from students making a total of twenty four (24) denominations were studies covering 5,10,20,50,100,200,500 and 1000 naira denominations. The assessment involved isolation and identification of bacterial organisms on naira notes, evaluation of microbial load, and determination of the percentage (%) of occurrence of the contamination. And evaluation of the Microbial load associated with the contaminants found. A total number of 45 bacterial organisms were isolated. These organisms comprised of seven (7) bacteria genera out of which Escherichia coli (26.7%), proteus species (31.1%) ranked the highest in frequency. It was observed that some of the microbial isolates are pathogenic to human beings. The result actually show that bank notes could serve as a vehicle for transmission of pathogenic organisms. The need for improvement in the personal hygiene of meat sellers, fish sellers and careful handling of the naira notes by the public is encouraged. All the bacteria isolates show higher percentage sensitivity to streptomycin antibiotic.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgments iv

Table of content   v

List of Tables vii

Abstract viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Aim of the study 4

1.2 Objective of the study 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature view 5

2.1 Various Bacteria Contaminants Associated fomites 11

2.1.1 Coagulase negative staphylococci (coaNs) 11

2.1.2 Klebsiella species 11

2.1.3 Bacillus spp 12

2.1.4 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12

2.1.5 Proteus spp 13

2.1.6 Staphylococcus aureus 13

2.1.7 Escherichia coli 14

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and methods 15

3.0 . Study Area 15

3.1 Sample Collection 15

3.2 Serial Dilution 16

3.3 Sterilization Method 16

3.4 Preparation of Media 17

3.5 Culturing 17

3.6 Microbiological Evaluation 18

3.7 Gram Staining Technique 18

3.8 Biochemical Analysis 19

3.8.1 Oxidase Test 19

3.8.2 Catalase Test 19

3.8.3 Motility Test 20

3.8.4 Indole Test 20

3.8.5 Citrate Utilization Test 20

3.8.6 Coagulase Test 21

3.8.7 Urease Test 22

3.8.8 Triple Sugar Iron Test (Tsi) Test 23

3.9 Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing 23

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results 24

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion Recommendation and Conclusion 31

5.1 Discussion 31

5.2 Recommendation 34

5.3 Conclusion and Recommendation 35

References