Microbiological Evaluation of Naira Notes Handled by Fish Sellers in Umuahia Metropolis

Naira is the Nigerian currency used as the country’s legal tender. Naira notes handled by fish sellers in Umuahia Metropolitan were evaluated for microbial contaminations. Three markets, Ubani, Orie Ugba and Ndoro were used for the study and three selling points and seven denominations of the naira were studied in each market covering 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 naira denominations. The assessment involved evaluation of the microbial load, flora and occurrences of difference organisms found. 4.62(± 4.8)x10 cfu/ml), Orieugba 5 1.10 (± 2.4) x10 cfu/ml to 3.67(±10.9)cfu/ml) and Ndoro 1.27(±1.7) x10 cfu/ml to 2.49(±6.8) x10 cfu/ml). Fungal load 5 5 5 were also recorded for the same market respectively 1.1(±0.2) x10 cfu/ml to 3.0(± x10 cfu/note at Ubani market, 3 3 1.8± x10 cfu/note to3.4± x10 cfu/note at Orieugba and Ndoro,1.3(±1.1) x10 cfu/ml to3.3± x10 cfu/ml. Bacterial 3 3 3 3 flora showed seven isolates with percentage occurrence of staphylococcus 69.91%, Escherichia coli (52.39%), Pseudomonas spp (33.33%), Bacillus spp (66.67%), Klebsiella spp (42.86%), streptococcus spp (38.10%), Salmonella (52.39%). the occurrence of the fungi isolates were yeasts (76.19%), Aspergillus spp (52.38%). Penicillium spp (28.57%) and Rhizopus (19.05%).Statistical analysis at (P<0.05) shows that there are significant differences among the different naira notes in the different markets but that there are no significant differences among the same naira notes in the three different markets. It was observed that some of the microbial isolates are known pathogens and their presence suggest the possibility of the naira note acting as the carrier of these pathogens for subsequential infection of citizens. The need for improvement in the personal hygiene of fish sellers (and other marketers) and that of the environment was highlighted and enlightment of the marketers (buyers, sellers and others) was recommended.