Bacterial contamination of Iraqi paper currency in circulation in Al-Nasiriyah city, Thi – Qar province

The aim of this study was to investigate the types of bacteria which contaminated the Iraqi paper currency in circulation in Al –Nasiriyah city, Thi – Qar province. It was collected 75 paper currencies in circulation which included 15 of each one for five category of (250, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 25,000 ) dinars from different sources (fish vendors, vegetable sellers, cafeteria, officers, butchers) .the study was appeared the higher number of aerobic plate count (APC)were founded in denomination 1000 dinar in range ( 40 -900 )C.F.U. / ml, while the lowest number were in denomination 250 dinar in range (20-80) C.F.U . / ml . Sixty five of different bacterial isolates were obtained from 75 samples of paper currency., the denomination 250 was contaminated with the highest number of isolates ,it recorded 18(27.7%)isolates . Escherichia coli was predominated among other bacteria, it was registered 12(18.46%) followed by Micrococcus sp.(9(13.8%)). Streptococcus sp. was registered the lowest number (1(1.53%))among other isolates .The number of bacterial isolates that obtained from paper currency of fish venders was more than that in other possesses , it was reached 17 (26.15%), and the paper currency of Officers showed the lowest number of isolates(7(10.76%)).