Microorganisms associated with Gold Jewelries Worn by Students in the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Nigeria
Author Affiliations
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Edo State, NIGERIA
- 2
- 3
Res. J. Recent Sci., Volume 1, Issue (5), Pages 46-50, May,2 (2012)
Abstract
A total of 50 pieces of gold jewelries (17 necklaces, 17 earrings and 16 hand chains) worn by students in the University of Benin Ugbowo Campus were examined for the presence of bacteria and fungi. The samples were examined microscopically, culturally, morphologically and biochemically using standard microbiological techniques. The microorganisms recovered were Staphylococcus albus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus varians, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marcescens, Aeromonas sobria, Escherichia coli, Shigella sp., Corynebacterium sp., Bacillus firmus, Bacillus circulans, Rothia sp., Pseudomonas sp. for bacterial isolates and Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus niger, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton sp., Alternaria sp., Microsporum gypseum, Diplococcium sp., Aspergillus flavus, Geotrichum candidum, and Penicillium sp. for fungal isolates. The mean population counts of bacteria and fungi isolated ranged from 1.07 x 105 to 1.61 x 105 Cfu/ml and 1.44 x 105 to 9.41 x 105 Cfu/ml respectively. Staphylococcus albus and Alternaria sp. were the most common encountered bacterial and fungal isolates in all the jewelries examined. This study revealed that human jewelries can habour microorganisms that can cause skin diseases. Therefore, it is important to sanitize the jewelries regularly.
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