THE PREVALENCE OF Aspergillusniger ON THE HANDS OF PRIVATE SCHOOL PUPILS IN OZORO

ABSTRACT

Microorganisms live as transient contaminants in fomites or hands where they constitute a major health hazards. Fungi contaminate our body, houses, workplaces and whole environment. This study evaluates the prevalence of Aspergillusniger from the hands of private school’s pupils in Ozoro. Sterile swap sticks previously soaked in normal saline was used to palpate pupils hand in fifteen (15) different schools. Six (6) fungi species were isolated; Fusarium spp, Aspergillus spp, Candida albican, Rhizopus spp, yeast and Penicillum. The total heterotrophic count of the isolates ranges from 1.2×10⁵ -8.4×10⁵. Aspergilliusniger have 40.90% which is the highest percentage occurrence among all isolated organisms. Rhizopus sp and Fusarium sp. have 9.09% occurrence which are the least percentage occurrence of isolated organisms. The presence of these organisms can be attributed to the fact these pupils play with objects, soils and animals which may have been contaminated with these organisms already.