Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Indian J Microbiol. 2010 Oct;50(Suppl 1):139-41. doi: 10.1007/s12088-010-0074-1. Epub 2010 Nov 25.
A mycological survey of Nigerian currency (naira) notes in circulation in Benin City was undertaken to determine the fungal species present, so as to bring to light the health implications of their presence. A total of 84 naira notes comprising 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 naira denominations were obtained randomly from a bank, commuter bus, food canteen, and open market. Four-day old Potato Dextrose Agar cultures of diluted water diffusate of the currency notes were examined under the microscope and fungi were isolated and identified. The isolated fungi and their frequencies of isolation were A. flavus (90.5), A. fumigatus (42.9), A. terreus (57.1), A. flavipes (26.2) A. niger (59.5), Candida albicans (92.3), Rhizopus sp (2.7), Penicillium sp (4.0), Fusarium sp (12.8), and Saccharomyces cerevisae (16.1%). The frequencies of fungi isolated from the various denominations varied significantly at 0.05 probability. While the 50 naira denomination had the highest colony count (mean of means = 41 colonies/ml) the 500 naira had the lowest colony count (mean of means =8.3 colonies/ml). The high occurrence of fungi in the currency notes is of public health concern.
对尼日利亚流通中的奈拉钞票（naira）进行了一项真菌学调查，以确定存在的真菌种类，从而揭示其存在对健康的影响。从一家银行、通勤巴士、食品食堂和露天市场随机抽取了 84 张奈拉钞票，包括 20、50、100、200 和 500 奈拉面值。检查了钞票稀释水扩散物的马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂 4 天龄培养物，并用显微镜观察真菌，并进行分离和鉴定。分离出的真菌及其分离频率分别为黄曲霉（A. flavus）（90.5%）、烟曲霉（A. fumigatus）（42.9%）、土曲霉（A. terreus）（57.1%）、黄曲霉（A. flavipes）（26.2%）、黑曲霉（A. niger）（59.5%）、白色念珠菌（Candida albicans）（92.3%）、根霉属（Rhizopus sp）（2.7%）、青霉属（Penicillium sp）（4.0%）、镰刀菌属（Fusarium sp）（12.8%）和酿酒酵母（Saccharomyces cerevisae）（16.1%）。不同面额的真菌分离频率在 0.05 概率水平上差异显著。虽然 50 奈拉面额的菌落计数最高（平均值为 41 个菌落/ml），但 500 奈拉面额的菌落计数最低（平均值为 8.3 个菌落/ml）。钞票中真菌的高发生率引起了公众健康的关注。
