Open AccessNaira note: Potential Environmental Material for Transmitting Bacterial Pathogens among Food Dealers in Umuahia, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Ekene Samuel Odo,
Gloria N. Ebe,
M N Umeh,
Daniel A. Nwaubani,
Israel C. Omekara
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of tropical disease and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2278-1005
DOI - 10.9734/ijtdh/2021/v42i1630524
Subject(s) - salmonella , shigella , health hazard , biology , staphylococcus aureus , population , pathogenic bacteria , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , veterinary medicine , bacteria , environmental health , medicine , genetics
Inanimate objects can serve as environmental vehicles for transmitting pathogenic bacteria among individuals in the population. Our study revealed that of the 72 naira notes examined, 58 samples representing 80.6% had bacterial contaminants. The bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (70.8%), Salmonella spp. (51.4%), Escherichia coli (44.4%), Shigella spp. (22.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (18.1%), and Proteus spp. (1.4%). The naira notes examined were all obtained from food dealers particularly fish sellers, food vendors, and meat sellers. The presence of these bacterial pathogens on naira notes handled by those food dealers is an important public health hazard as they can contaminate food leading to foodborne diseases and intoxications. Our study found that lower denominations of currency notes (naira), were mostly contaminated by these pathogens and this could be as a result of their frequent use in daily transactions.