Resumen

MORALES MORENO, Pedro et al. Contamination of banknotes with enteric parasites in Coro, Falcon state, Venezuela. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2014, vol.54, n.1, pp.38-46. ISSN 1690-4648.

Banknotes are some of the objects most handled and exchanged by people, thus representing a potential vehicle for the transmission of intestinal parasites. Between May and July 2013, a total of 185 banknotes (Bs.F) from all denominations were randomly selected from trade centers and banks in Coro, Falcon state, Venezuela. The notes were washed with sterile distilled water + Tween^® 20 (20 %) and then left at room temperature for 2-3 h for sedimentation to occur. Five mL of sediment were then centrifuged for 3-5min and the sediment was then examined with the aid of a light microscopy using direct parasitological methods and Kinyoun stained slides. A total of 42.16% (78/185) of the examined notes were contaminated by one or more parasitic/commensal taxa, with Blastocystis sp. (30.27%), Endolimax sp. (8.65%), Cyclospora sp. (8.11%) and Giardia sp. (7.57%) the most commonly isolated species. Dirty and damaged notes (50.75%) showed significantly higher percentages of contamination compared to mint (0%) and apparently clean (50%) ones (χ²= 26.11; P=0.0000). No statistically significant associations between the value of the notes, their date of emission and contamination frequencies were found (P > 0.05). We conclude that banknotes (Bs.F) circulating in Coro, Falcon state, Venezuela, could serve as a potential fomite for the spread of intestinal parasites. Sanitation awareness campaigns for the proper use and management of banknotes are therefore recommended.

Palabras clave : Intestinal parasites; banknotes; contamination; fomites; Venezuela.

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