Role of the Housefly as a Biological Vector for Bacteria and Fungi at Some Slaughterhouses

Abstract

Background and Objective: The housefly, Musca domestica L. is the most widespread species of fly in the world. It is in close association with many human pathogens that which can cause serious and life-threatening diseases are known to be carried by house flies, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, Therefore, this study came intending to determine the role of house flies isolated from some slaughterhouses in the city of Al-Diwaniyah/Iraq in the spread of bacterial and fungal pathogens to humans. Materials and Methods: The 120 insects of house flies were collected randomly from some slaughterhouses for the period September to November, 2021 by special networks prepared for this purpose and transferred to the laboratory and then the bacteria and fungi were isolated and identified from the external surface of house flies by using appropriate culture media. Results: In this study, 148 bacterial isolates belonging to 15 species of bacteria were isolated and diagnosed from the external body of house flies that isolated, 91 samples had given positive growth of bacteria and Escherichia coli was the most occurrence and frequent from the other bacterial isolates, the occurrence rate of it was 16/91 (17.582%) with a frequency rate of 27/148 (18.243%). The 154 fungal isolates belonging to 16 species of fungi were isolated and diagnosed from the external body of house flies, 87 samples had given a positive growth of fungi and Aspergillus niger was the most occurrence and frequent from the other fungal isolates, as its occurrence rate reached 14/87 (16.091%) and the frequency rate of 21/154 (13.636%). Conclusion: House flies transmit many pathological microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc., which causes various diseases for humans and animals and it may help the spread of antibiotic-resistant species and there is an urgent need to conduct many studies to know the new types of microorganisms that house flies can transmit.