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Medical and Veterinary Entomology Dec 2022Adult house flies feed and breed in a variety of microbe-rich habitats and serve as vectors for human and animal pathogens. To better understand their role in harbouring...
Adult house flies feed and breed in a variety of microbe-rich habitats and serve as vectors for human and animal pathogens. To better understand their role in harbouring and disseminating bacteria, we characterized the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in the gut of female house flies collected from three different habitats in Kansas: agricultural (dairy farm), urban (business area dumpsters) and mixed (business located between residential and animal agriculture areas). Bacterial community composition and diversity were influenced more by the house flies' habitat than by sampling time. The most abundant taxa were also highly prevalent in the house flies collected from all three habitats, potentially representing a 'core microbiome' attributable to the fly's trophic and reproductive associations with substrates and food sources comprised of decaying matter and/or animal waste. Bacterial taxa associated with vertebrate guts/faeces and potential pathogens were highly abundant in agricultural fly microbial communities. Interestingly, taxa of potential pathogens were highly abundant in flies from the mixed and urban sites. House flies harboured diverse bacterial communities influenced by the habitat in which they reside, including potential human and animal pathogens, further bolstering their role in the dissemination of pathogens, and indicating their utility for pathogen surveillance.
Topics: Female; Humans; Animals; Houseflies; Muscidae; Bacteria; Microbiota; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 35599244
DOI: 10.1111/mve.12581 -
BMC Public Health Aug 2018The synanthropic house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), is a mechanical vector of pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites), some of which cause... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The synanthropic house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), is a mechanical vector of pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites), some of which cause serious diseases in humans and domestic animals. In the present study, a systematic review was done on the types and prevalence of human pathogens carried by the house fly.
METHODS
Major health-related electronic databases including PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were searched (Last update 31/11/2017) for relevant literature on pathogens that have been isolated from the house fly.
RESULTS
Of the 1718 titles produced by bibliographic search, 99 were included in the review. Among the titles included, 69, 15, 3, 4, 1 and 7 described bacterial, fungi, bacteria+fungi, parasites, parasite+bacteria, and viral pathogens, respectively. Most of the house flies were captured in/around human habitation and animal farms. Pathogens were frequently isolated from body surfaces of the flies. Over 130 pathogens, predominantly bacteria (including some serious and life-threatening species) were identified from the house flies. Numerous publications also reported antimicrobial resistant bacteria and fungi isolated from house flies.
CONCLUSIONS
This review showed that house flies carry a large number of pathogens which can cause serious infections in humans and animals. More studies are needed to identify new pathogens carried by the house fly.
Topics: Animals; Houseflies; Humans; Insect Vectors
PubMed: 30134910
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5934-3 -
Medical and Veterinary Entomology Mar 2019Tabanids, stomoxyine flies, hippoboscids and tsetse flies are the most well-known brachyceran biting flies of livestock. Only a few other higher Diptera have developed... (Review)
Review
Tabanids, stomoxyine flies, hippoboscids and tsetse flies are the most well-known brachyceran biting flies of livestock. Only a few other higher Diptera have developed the unique mouthparts required for blood feeding. These neglected blood feeders can also have direct effects on hosts through blood loss, and are likely to contribute to the transmission of pathogens. Musca crassirostris (Diptera: Muscidae) is one of the most abundant of the muscid flies with this haematophagous lifestyle; it is widespread in the Palaearctic, Afrotropical and Oriental regions. The present study reviews and summarizes the biology and morphology of this species, and its potential for impact on animals and humans. The study also provides a fully illustrated description of the fly to facilitate its identification, and reviews information on abundance, with a focus on recent trapping surveys in Thailand. When sampled using traps designed for other biting flies, M. crassirostris appears to be four and 45 times more abundant than stomoxyines and tabanids, respectively. High numbers of M. crassirostris in the vicinity of livestock have also been associated with outbreaks of disease, such as that of a fatal plague in bovine farms in Egypt. This calls for a reconsideration of its potential impacts on livestock economics and health, and thus the development of suitable control methods.
Topics: Animal Diseases; Animals; Feeding Behavior; Insect Control; Insect Vectors; Life History Traits; Livestock; Muscidae; Population Density; Thailand
PubMed: 30461046
DOI: 10.1111/mve.12339 -
International Journal of Legal Medicine Sep 2021Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) is a synanthropic muscid found in tropical and subtropical zones around the world. The larvae of this species are a secondary... (Review)
Review
Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) is a synanthropic muscid found in tropical and subtropical zones around the world. The larvae of this species are a secondary agent of myiasis with necrophagous habits and play an important role in forensic entomology, as they are used as an indicator of post-mortem interval. Adults can be considered vectors of etiological agents such as Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae. Due to its ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, its high dispersal capacity (shown by its introduction to Europe), its predatory habits in the last larval stage and the difficulty of identifying it, a very important goal is to update our knowledge about this species. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to review the identification, geographical distribution and biology of this species in order to provide better support to investigations involving this fly.
Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Forensic Entomology; Life Cycle Stages; Muscidae; Predatory Behavior; Species Specificity
PubMed: 33738569
DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02543-w -
Medical and Veterinary Entomology Mar 2023The enigmatic larvae of the Old World genus Passeromyia Rodhain & Villeneuve, 1915 (Diptera: Muscidae) inhabit the nests of birds as saprophages or as haematophagous...
The enigmatic larvae of the Old World genus Passeromyia Rodhain & Villeneuve, 1915 (Diptera: Muscidae) inhabit the nests of birds as saprophages or as haematophagous agents of myiasis among nestlings. Using light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we provide the first morphological descriptions of the first, second and third instar of P. longicornis (Macquart, 1851) (Diptera: Muscidae), the first and third instar of P. indecora (Walker, 1858) (Diptera: Muscidae), and we revise the larval morphology of P. heterochaeta (Villenueve, 1915) (Diptera: Muscidae) and P. steini Pont, 1970 (Diptera: Muscidae). We provide a key to the third instar of examined species (excluding P. steini and P. veitchi Bezzi, 1928 (Diptera: Muscidae)). Examination of the cephaloskeleton revealed paired rod-like sclerites, named 'rami', between the lateral arms of the intermediate sclerite in the second and third instar larva. We reveal parastomal bars fused apically with the intermediate sclerite, the absence of which has so far been considered as apomorphic for second and third instar muscid larvae. Examination of additional material suggests that modified parastomal bars are not exclusive features of Passeromyia but occur widespread in the Muscidae, and rami may occur widespread in the Cyclorrhapha.
Topics: Animals; Larva; Muscidae; Diptera; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Myiasis; Birds
PubMed: 36156281
DOI: 10.1111/mve.12603 -
Journal of Economic Entomology Feb 2023Livestock farming is currently reducing the use of synthetic insecticides because of the development of resistance in insect pests. Plant-based bioinsecticides are...
Chemical Profiles and Lethal Toxicities of Native Botanical Insecticides for the Control of Musca domestica Linnaeus and Stomoxys indicus Picard (Diptera: Muscidae) in Songkhla Province, Thailand.
Livestock farming is currently reducing the use of synthetic insecticides because of the development of resistance in insect pests. Plant-based bioinsecticides are considered alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Therefore, the present study investigated the chemical composition and discriminating concentrations (DCs) of essential oils from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. and L. M. Perry (SA), Cinnamomum porrectum (Roxb.) Kosterm (CP), and Litsea cubeba (Loureiro) Persoon (LC) against laboratory-reared Musca domestica (larvae and adults) and field-derived Stomoxys indicus (adults) using larval dip and adult contact bioassays. All essential oils were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. The most common components in the SA, CP, and LC oils were eugenol, safrole, and terpenoids, respectively. The results of a larval test indicated that CP was most effective against M. domestica with a DC of 6.134% v/v. In adult bioassays, CP was also the most toxic oil against M. domestica (DC = 30.644% v/v), whereas SA displayed the greatest toxicity against S. indicus (DC = 1.434% v/v). Moreover, in the larval bioassay results of oils tested at 1, 5, and 10% v/v in M. domestica, 1% and 5% v/v CP had the shortest median lethal times values of 68.88 and 19.44 min, respectively, whereas, at 10% v/v, SA displayed the shortest median lethal time (0.03 min), followed by CP (1.74 min) and LC (19.02 min). However, additional data are needed to further evaluate the semi-field and field effects of CP and SA on M. domestica and S. indicus under realistic operational conditions.
Topics: Animals; Houseflies; Muscidae; Insecticides; Thailand; Oils, Volatile; Larva
PubMed: 36545896
DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac202 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2022Buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans ) are hematophagous ectoparasites of cattle causing production and welfare impacts in northern Australian herds. Skin lesions...
Buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans ) are hematophagous ectoparasites of cattle causing production and welfare impacts in northern Australian herds. Skin lesions associated with buffalo fly infestation and nematode infection are manifested as focal dermatitis or ulcerated areas, most commonly on the medial canthus of the eye, along the lateral and ventral neck, and on the abdomen of cattle. For closely related horn flies (), Staphylococcus aureus has been suggested as a contributing factor in the development of lesions. To investigate the potential role of bacterial infection in the pathogenesis of buffalo fly lesions, swabs were taken from lesions and normal skin, and bacteria were also isolated from surface washings of buffalo flies and surface-sterilized homogenized flies. Bacterial identification was conducted by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and strain typing by repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) and DNA sequencing to determine species similarity and virulence factors. Of 50 bacterial isolates collected from lesions, 38 were identified as Staphylococcus agnetis and 12 as Staphylococcus hyicus, whereas four isolates from normal skin were and one was Mammaliicoccus sciuri. Of the Staphylococcus isolates isolated from buffalo flies, five were identified as and three as . Fifty percent of the buffalo fly isolates had rep-PCR genotypic patterns identical to those of the lesion isolates. Genome sequencing of 16 and four isolates revealed closely similar virulence factor profiles, with all isolates possessing exfoliative toxin A and C genes. The findings from this study suggest the involvement of and in buffalo fly lesion pathogenesis. This should be taken into account in the development of effective treatment and control strategies for lesions. Skin lesions in cattle associated with feeding by fly species are a significant welfare issue in Australia, North and South America, and Europe. The development of these lesions has been attributed to a number of causal factors, but the exact etiology and pathogenesis were unclear. This study characterized Staphylococcus agnetis and Staphylococcus hyicus strains from cattle skin lesions and in vector flies and demonstrated their role in the pathogenesis of these lesions. These findings will aid the development of targeted and more effective treatment and control strategies for lesions associated with fly infestation in cattle.
Topics: Animals; Australia; Cattle; Muscidae; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus hyicus
PubMed: 35863026
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00873-22 -
Journal of Economic Entomology Dec 2020The house fly is a ubiquitous pest commonly associated with animal facilities and urban waste. When present in large numbers, house flies can negatively impact humans... (Review)
Review
The house fly is a ubiquitous pest commonly associated with animal facilities and urban waste. When present in large numbers, house flies can negatively impact humans and animals through nuisance and the transmission of pathogens. Since the development of fly traps and sticky papers to capture flies in the late 1800s, these and other methods have been used as a means to monitor change in house fly density or fly activity over time. Methods include substrate sampling to record density of immature flies, visual observations of adult fly activity, instantaneous counts of landing or resting flies, accumulation of adult flies on/in traps, or accumulation of fly fecal and regurgitation spots deposited by flies onto white cards. These methods do not estimate true house fly density, but rather provide an index of house fly activity that is related to both fly density and the frequency of individual fly behavior (e.g., frequency of flight, landing events) and which is likely more predictive of negative impacts such as nuisance and pathogen transmission. Routine monitoring of house fly activity is a critical component of a house fly management program. Fly activity should be held to a level below a predetermined activity threshold ('action threshold') above which negative impacts are anticipated to occur. This article is a review of methods utilized for monitoring house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) activity.
Topics: Animals; Houseflies; Insect Control; Muscidae
PubMed: 33057651
DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaa229 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2023As resistance to the limited number of insecticides available for medical and veterinary pests becomes more widespread, there is an urgent need for new insecticides and...
As resistance to the limited number of insecticides available for medical and veterinary pests becomes more widespread, there is an urgent need for new insecticides and synergists on the market. To address this need, we conducted a study to assess the toxicity of three monoterpenoids-carvone, menthone, and fenchone-in comparison to permethrin and methomyl against adults of two common pests: the yellow fever mosquito () and the house fly (). We also examined the potential for these monoterpenoids to enhance the effectiveness of permethrin and methomyl when used together. Finally, we evaluated the ability of each monoterpenoid to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, comparing them to methomyl. While all three monoterpenoids performed relatively poorly as topical insecticides (LD > 4000 ng/mg on ; >6000 ng/mg on ), they synergized both permethrin and methomyl as well as or better than piperonyl butoxide (PBO). Carvone and menthone yielded synergistic co-toxicity factors (23 and 29, respectively), which were each higher than PBO at 24 h. Currently, the mechanism of action is unknown. During preliminary testing, symptoms of acetylcholinesterase inhibition were identified, prompting further testing. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition did not appear to explain the toxic or synergistic effects of the three monoterpenoids, with IC values greater than 1 mM for all, compared to the 2.5 and 1.7 µM for methomyl on and , respectively. This study provides valuable monoterpenoid toxicity and synergism data on two pestiferous insects and highlights the potential for these chemistries in future pest control formulations.
Topics: Animals; Insecticides; Houseflies; Aedes; Permethrin; Acetylcholinesterase; Methomyl; Muscidae; Monoterpenes; Yellow Fever
PubMed: 37050012
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073250 -
Tropical Biomedicine Mar 2023Blow flies, flesh flies, and house flies can provide excellent evidence for forensic entomologists and are also essential to the fields of public health, medicine, and...
Blow flies, flesh flies, and house flies can provide excellent evidence for forensic entomologists and are also essential to the fields of public health, medicine, and animal health. In all questions, the correct identification of fly species is an important initial step. The usual methods based on morphology or even molecular approaches can reach their limits here, especially when dealing with larger numbers of specimens. Since machine learning already plays a major role in many areas of daily life, such as education, business, industry, science, and medicine, applications for the classification of insects have been reported. Here, we applied the decision tree method with wing morphometric data to construct a model for discriminating flies of three families [Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae] and seven species [Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart), Chrysomya (Ceylonomyia) nigripes Aubertin, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann), Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann), Musca domestica Linneaus, and Parasarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) dux Thomson]. One hundred percent overall accuracy was obtained at a family level, followed by 83.33% at a species level. The results of this study suggest that non-experts might utilize this identification tool. However, more species and also samples per specimens should be studied to create a model that can be applied to the different fly species in Thailand.
Topics: Animals; Diptera; Sarcophagidae; Calliphoridae; Houseflies; Thailand
PubMed: 37356007
DOI: 10.47665/tb.40.1.019