Abstract
In the present study, different fly species were associated with foodborne and other pathogens. Wild synanthropic flies belonging to 12 species of 12 genera were caught for the isolation and identification of microorganisms, which might have been possibly transmitted by these flies. Trapping of flies was done at different domestic animal related places (dog pound, poultry house, cattle barn, horse stable, pigpen). All 56 individual flies were shown to be carriers of multiple species of microorganisms. Furthermore, the capacity for the flies to act as vectors was demonstrated by successful transfer of the microorganisms from live flies to blood agar plates. Potentially pathogenic and several non-pathogenic microorganisms were found. Among them, a series of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains (EAEC, EPEC, ETEC) was identified. This is the first study to clearly demonstrate the potential of these flies as vectors for the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Ako-nai AK, Oguniyi AD, Lamikanra A, Torimire SEA (1991) The characterization of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in IIe-Ife, Nigeria. J Med Microbiol 34:109–112
Altekrues SF, Cohen MT, Swerdlow DI (1997) Emerging foodborne diseases. Emerg Infect Dis 3:285–293
Banjo AD, Lawal OA, Adeduji OO (2005) Bacteria and fungi isolated from house fly (Musca domestica L.) larvae. Afr J Biotechnol 4:780–784
Beutin L (1999) Escherichia coli as a pathogen in dogs and cats. Vet Res 30:285–298
Chinery M (2002) Pareys Buch der Insekten, vol III. Parey, Berlin, Wien, pp 328
De Jesus AJ, Olsen AR, Bryce JR, Whiting RC (2004) Quantitative contamination and transfer of Escherichia coli from food by houseflies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Int J Food Microbiol 93:259–262
Garmendia J, Frankel G, Crepin VF (2005) Enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infections: translocation, translocation, translocation. Infect Immun 73:2573–2585
Greenberg B, Verela G, Bornstein A, Hernandez H (1963) Salmonellae from flies in a Mexican slaughterhouse. Am J Hyg 77:177–183
Greenberg B (1965) Flies and diseases. Sci Amer 213:92–99
Greenberg B, Kowalski JA, Klowden MJ (1970) Factors affecting the transmission of Salmonella by flies: natural resistance to colonization and bacterial interference. Infect Immun 2:800–809
Greenberg B (1971) Flies and disease, vol I. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, pp 856
Greenberg B (1973) Flies and disease, vol II. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, pp 447
Iwasa M, Makino S, Asakura H, Kobori H, Kaljser B (1999) Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) at a cattle farm in Japan. J Med Entomol 36:108–112
Khan AR, Hug F (1978) Disease agents carried by flies in Dacca city. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 4:86–93
Kobayashi M, Sasaki T, Saito N, Tamura K, Suzuki K, Watanabe H, Agui N (1999) Houseflies: not simple mechanical vectors of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Am J Trop Med Hyg 61:625–629
Karch H (2005) Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli in human medicine. Int J Med Microbiol 295:405–418
Levine OS, Levine MM (1991) Houseflies (Musca domestica) as mechanical vectors of shigellosis. Rev Infect Dis 13:688–696
Mian LSH, Jacal JV (2002) Isolation of salmonellas from muscoid flies at commercial animal establishments in a Bernardino country, California. J Vector Ecol 27:82–85
Nichols GL (2005) Fly transmission of Campylobacter. Emerg Infect Dis 3:361–364
RKI (Robert-Koch Institut) (2006) Information. Epidemiol Bull 41:351–362
Steinmuller N, Demma L, Bender JB, Eidson M, Angulo FJ (2006) Outbreaks of enteric disease associated with animal contact: not just a foodborne problem anymore. Emerg Infect Dis 43:1596–1602
Szalanski AL, Owens CB, McKay, Steelman CD (2004) Detection of Campylobacter and Escherichia coli O157:H7 from filth flies by polymerase chain reaction. Med Vet Entomol 18:241–246
Umeche N, Mandah LE (1989) Musca domestica as a carrier of intestinal helminths in Calabar, Nigeria. East Afr Med J 66:349–352
Wagner AB (1989) Bacterial food poisoning. Texas Agric Ext Publication #L-1540
WHO (2002a) Food safety and foodborne illness. World Health Organization, Geneva (fact sheet no. 237)
WHO (2002b) Foodborne diseases, emerging. World Health Organization, Geneva (fact sheet no. 124)
Acknowledgement
We thank PD Dr. G. Schmahl and Dr. Ian Thompson for the critical reading of an earlier version of the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Förster, M., Klimpel, S., Mehlhorn, H. et al. Pilot study on synanthropic flies (e.g. Musca, Sarcophaga, Calliphora, Fannia, Lucilia, Stomoxys) as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. Parasitol Res 101, 243–246 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0522-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0522-y