International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277 - 2502 1 5 2012 May 2 Microorganisms associated with Gold Jewelries Worn by Students in the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Nigeria 46 50 EN Bhattacharya Anjanabha 1 Plant and Crop Sciences Division, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK 2BBIO, Jai Research Foundation, Vapi, Gujarat, INDIA Power JohnB. 2 DaveyMicheal R. 3 Kanife U.C. 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology P.M.B 2011, Yaba Lagos, NIGERIA Odesanmi O.S. 2 Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine University of Lagos, NIGERIA Adekunle A.A. 3 Department of Botany, University of Lagos, NIGERIA Doherty V.F. 4 Department of Biological Sciences, Yaba College of Technology P.M.B 2011, Yaba Lagos, NIGERIA Bobade S.N. 1 Indian Biodiesel Corporation, Baramati Tal- Baramati, Dist- Pune, INDIA Khyade V.B. 2 Shardabai Pawar Mahila College, Shardanagar Tal – Baramati, Dist. Pune, INDIA Okoli L.U. 1 Department of Physics, Federal College of Education, Technical, Umunze, NIGERIA Ozuomba J.O. 2 Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Madonna University, Elele, NIGERIA Ekpunobi A.J. 3 Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NIGERIA Ekwo P.I. 4 Islam M.A. 1 Graduate Training Institute, Bangladesh Agricultural University, BANGLADESH Begum S. 2 Department of Crop Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, BANGLADESH Nakaba S. 3 Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JAPAN Funada R. 4 HiremathDeepa B. 1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, INDIA Shiyani R.L. 2 Isitua C.C. 1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Edo State, NIGERIA Igbinidu O.F. 2 Imariabe O.J. 3 > Research Paper 2012 3 5 2012 May 2 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. Copyright@ International Science Community Association