Money may carry pathogenic microorganisms that might survive represent an often overlooked reservoir for enteric diseases. A total of 84 Iraqi currencies were collected from different sources including: car drivers, baggers and bank workers from the period between January 2010 till June 2010. Seventy two hand swaps from car drivers, baggers and bank workers were taken during the same period, and (31) currency packages were taken from central Iraqi bank. The results showed that the total number of the examined human hands for bacterial and parasitic pathogens was 17 drivers all of them were males, 22 baggers; 10 males and 12 females, 33 bank workers; two males and 31 females. The main pathogenic bacteria types which isolated from hand swaps of drivers were Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella and Escherichia coli. Staphylococcus aureus was the dominant among the all age groups. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the ages and type of pathogens. The same type of bacteria was found in the hand swaps from baggers, but the highest number recorded was Klebseilla. The statistical analysis showed a high stander deviation in Klebsiella (2.828) and a significant differences between the ages, sex and the type of pathogens; P ≤ 0.05 (0.028). The groups of bank workers had more pathogenic bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus was the dominant as compared with others and females encountered more bacteria than males. But there was no significant differences between sex, age group and type of pathogen when P ≤ 0.05 (0.716). Different pathogens were also found in the currency with mint, clean and dirty/ mutilated condition from all groups under this study. The parasitic pathogens were isolated from baggers hand swaps only, and only Entamoeba histolytica and ova of some parasites were recognized from different hand swaps and money.
Key words: Currency, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, dirty/ mutilated
|
