Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flies as Vectors of Microorganisms Potentially Inducing Severe Diseases in Humans and Animals

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Arthropods as Vectors of Emerging Diseases

Part of the book series: Parasitology Research Monographs ((Parasitology Res. Monogr.,volume 3))

Abstract

This chapter reviews published and recent results on the detection of microorganisms on the surface or in the intestine of a variety of different fly species that may often occur in huge numbers in and around humans at rural and at urban sites. It is surely alarming when severe agents of diseases such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, enterotoxic E. coli, enteroaggregative E. coli, Klebsiella, Campylobacter, Providencia, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, and Candida albicans and Mucor and Aspergillus spp. are found on the bodies of flies or within their feces, which may contaminate food or wounds of humans and/or animals. The arising dangers have to be intensively considered and evaluated. Furthermore, fly control measures have to be strengthened and research to find long-lasting, nonpoisonous insecticides has to be increased. Otherwise flies will take the leadership as vectors of several emerging diseases, which then will have an enormous killing or at least disease-causing potential in animal production and in current megatowns and in those of the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbott SP (2002) Insects and other arthropods as agents of vector-dispersal in fungi. http://www.thermapure.com/pdf/AbbottInsectdispersal.pdf, pp 1–5

  • Abrams L (1976) Cestodosis in battery-housed laying hens. J S Afr Vet Assoc 47:171–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Ako-nai AK, Oguniyi AD, Lamikanra A, Torimire SEA (1991) The characterization of clinical isolates of Staphylococus aureus in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. J Med Microbiol 34:109–112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alam MJ, Zurek L (2004) Association of Escherichia coli O157:H7 with houseflies on a cattle farm. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:7578–7580

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Altekrues SF, Cohen MT, Swerdlow DI (1997) Emerging foodborne diseases. Emerg Infect Dis 3:285–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aspöck H (ed.) (2010) Sick through arthropods, Denisia vol 30. Austrian Museal Publisher, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Banjo AD, Lawal OA, Adedujji OO (2005) Bacteria and fungi isolated from house fly (Musca domestica L.) larvae. Afr J Biotechnol 4:780–784

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrow GI, Feltham RKA (2004) Cowan and Steel’s manual for the identification of medical bacteria, 3rd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 352 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bech-Nielsen S, Bornstein S, Christensson D, Wallgren TB, Zakrisson G, Chirico J. (1982) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7103186 Parafilaria bovicola (Tubangui 1934) in cattle: epizootiology-Vector studies and experimental transmission of Parafilaria bovicola to cattle. Am J Vet Res 43:948–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Beutin L (1999) Escherichia coli as a pathogen in dogs and cats. Vet Res 30:285–298

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bielaszewska M, Mellmann A, Zhand W, Köck R, Fruth A, Bauwens A, Peters G, Karch H (2011) Characterization of the E. coli strain associated with an outbreak of haemolytic uremic syndrome in Germany. Lancet. doi:10.1016/S 1473-3099 (11) 70165-7

  • Bram RA, George JE, Reichar RE, Tabaciinic WJ (2002) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12061432 Threat of foreign arthropod-borne pathogens to livestock in the United States. J Med Entomol 39:405–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Bush O, Lafferty AD, Lotz JM, Shostak AW (1997) Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. J Parasitol 83:575–583

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chinery M (2002) Pareys Buch der Insekten, vol III. Parey, Berlin, 328 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eckert J, Deplazes P, Friedhoff KT, Zahner H (2008) Parasitology for veterinarians. Enke, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekdahl K, Normann B, Andersson Y (2005) Could flies explain the elusive epidemiology of campylobacteriosis? BMC Infect Dis 5:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emerson PM, Lindsay SW, Alexander N, Bah M, Dibba SM, Faal HB, Lowe KO, McAdam KP, Ratcliffe AA, Walraven GE, Bailey RL (2004) Role of flies and provision of latrines in trachoma control: cluster-randomized controlled trial. Lancet 363:1093–1098

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Enright MR, Alexander TJ, Clifton-Hadley FA (1987) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3672850 Role of houseflies (Musca domestica) in the epidemiology of Streptococcus suis type 2. Vet Rec 121:132–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetene T, Worku N (2009) Public health importance of non-biting cyclorrhaphan flies. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 103:187–191

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer O, Mátlová L, Dvorská L, Svástová P, Bartl J, Melichárek I, Weston RT, Pavlik I (2001) Diptera as vectors of mycobacterial infections in cattle and pigs. Med Vet Entomol 15:208–211

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Förster M (2009) Gefährliche Plagegeister. Rundschau Fleischhyg Lebensmittelüberwach 7:4–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Förster M, Klimpel S, Mehlhorn H, Sievert K, Messler S, Pfeffer K (2007) Pilot study on synanthropic flies as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. Parasitol Res 101:243–246

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Förster M, Klimpel S, Sievert K (2009) The house fly (Musca domestica) as a potential vector of metazoan parasites caught in pig-pen in Germany. Vet Parasitol 160:163–167

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Förster M, Gestmann F, Mehlhorn H, Sievert K, Messler S, Neuhausen N, Petersdorf S, Pfeffer K (2012) Flies as vectors of parasites potentially inducing severe diseases in humans and animals. In: Mehlhorn H (ed) Arthropods as vectors of emerging diseases, vol 3, Parasitology research monographs. Springer, Heidelberg

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fotedar R (2001) Vector potential of houseflies (Musca domestica) in the transmission of Vibrio cholera in India. Acta Trop 78:31–34

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fotedar R, Banerjee U, Samantray JC, Shirniwa S (1992a) Vector potential of hospital houseflies with special reference to Klebsiella species. Epidemiol Infect 109:143–147

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fotedar R, Banerjee U, Singh S, Shirniwa S, Verma AK (1992b) The housefly (Musca domestica) as carrier of pathogenic microorganisms in a hospital environment. J Hosp Infect 20:209–215

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garmendia J, Frankel G, Crepin VF (2005) Enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infections: translocation, translocation, translocation. Infect Immun 73:2573–2585

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gault G, Weill FX, Mariani-Kurkdjian P et al (2011) Outbreak of haemolytic uremic syndrome and bloody diarrhoea due to E. coli O104:H4, south-west France, June 2011. Euro Surveill 16(26), pii=19905

    Google Scholar 

  • Gestmann F, Förster M, Mehlhorn H, Messler S, Neuhausen N, Pfeffer K (2012) Flies as vectors of microorganisms potentially inducing severe diseases in humans and animals. In: Mehlhorn H (ed) Arthropod as vectors of emerging diseases, vol 3, Parasitology research monographs. Springer, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Getachew S, Gebre-Michael T, Erko B, Balkew M, Medhin G (2007) Non-biting cyclorrhaphan flies (Diptera) as carriers of intestinal human parasites in slum areas of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Acta Trop 103:186–194

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graczyk TK, Thompson RC, Fayer R, Adams P, Morgan UM, Lewis EJ (1999) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10548284 Giardia duodenalis cysts of genotype A recovered from clams in the Chesapeake Bay subestuary, Rhode River. Am J Trop Med Hyg 61:526–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg B (1965) Flies and diseases. Sci Am 213:92–99

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg B (1971) Flies and disease, vol I. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg B (1973) Flies and disease, vol II. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg B, Verela G, Bornstein A, Hernandez H (1963) Salmonellae from flies in a Mexican slaughterhouse. Am J Hyg 77:177–183

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grübel P, Hoffman JS, Chong FK, Burstein NA, Mepani C, Cave DR (1997) Vector potential of houseflies (Musca domestica) for Helicobacter pylori. J Clin Microbiol 35:1300–1303

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hald B, Skovgard H, Pedersen K, Bunkenborg H (2008) Influx insects as vectors for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in Danish broiler houses. Poult Sci 87:1428–1434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haupt I, Haupt A (1998) Fliegen und Mücken. Naturbuch, Augsburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt PS, Geden CJ, Moore RW, Gast RK (2007) Isolation of Salmonella enteritica serovar enteritis from houseflies (Musca domestica) found in rooms containing Salmonella serovar enteritis-challenged hens. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:6030–6035

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • 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

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karch H (2005) Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli in human medicine. Int J Med Microbiol 295:405–418

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan AR, Huq F (1978) Disease agents carried by flies in Dacca city. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 4:86–93

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi M, Sasaki T, Saito N, Tamura K, Suzuki K, Watanabe H, Agui N (1999) House flies: not simple mechanical vectors of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Am J Trop Med Hyg 61:625–629

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kollaritsch H, Paulke-Korinek M (2010) Durchfallerkrankungen. In: Löscher T, Burchard KT (eds) Reisekrankheiten. Thieme, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine OS, Levine MM (1991) House flies (Musca domestica) as mechanical vectors of shigellosis. Rev Infect Dis 13:688–696

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Löscher T, Burchard GD (eds) (2010) Tropenmedizin in Klinik und Praxis. Thieme, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Medveczky I, Kovács L, Kovács F, Papp L (1988) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2856539 The role of the housefly, Musca domestica, in the spread of Aujeszky’s disease (pseudorabies). Med Vet Entomol 2:81–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehlhorn B, Mehlhorn H, Walldorf V (2011) Schach den Blutsaugern und Schädlingen. Düsseldorf University Press, Düsseldorf

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehlhorn H (ed) (2008) Encyclopedia of parasitology, 3rd edn. Springer, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehlhorn H, Piekarski G (2002) Grundriss der Parasitenkunde, 7th edn. Spectrum, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mihály F (1967) The danger-index of synathropic flies. Acta Zool Acad Sci Hung 13:373–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumeister B, Geiss HK, Braun RW, Kimmig P (eds) (2009) Mikrobielle Diagnostik, 2nd edn. Stuttgart, Thieme

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols GL (2005) Fly transmission of Campylobacter. Emerg Infect Dis 11:361–364

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ngern-Klun R, Sukotason K, Mathanitikorn R, Vogtsberger RC, Sukontason KL (2007) Fine structure of Chrysoma nigripes (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a fly species of medical importance. Parasitol Res 100:993–1002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Hara JE, Kennedy MJ (1989) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2795384 Prevalence and intensity of Thelazia spp. (Nematoda: Thelazioidea) in a Musca autumnalis (Diptera: Muscidae) population from Central Alberta. J Parasitol 75:803–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen AR, Hammack TS (2000) Isolation of Salmonella spp. From the housefly Musca domestica L., and the dump fly, Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae), at cage-layer houses. J Food Prot 63:958–960

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otake S, Dee SA, Moon RD, Rossow KD, Trincado C, Pijoan C (2004) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14756503 Studies on the carriage and transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by individual houseflies (Musca domestica). Vet Rec 154:80-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyerinde JPO (1976) The role of the housefly (Musca domestica) in the dissemination of hookworm. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 70:455–462

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasko DA, Webster DR, Sahl IW et al (2011) Origins of the E. coli strain causing on outbreak of haemolytic uremic syndrome in Germany. N Engl J Med. doi:10.105/NEJ Moa 11069LO

  • RKI (Robert-Koch Institut) (2006) Information. Epidemiol Bull 41:351–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Sales Mde, da Costa GL, Bittencourt VR (2002) Isolation of fungi in Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) captured at two natural breeding grounds in the municipality of Serop dica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 97:1107–1110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki T, Kobayashi M, Agui N (2000) Epidemiological potential of excretion and regurgitation by Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) in the dissemination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to food. J Med Entomol 37:945–949

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer M (2002) Brohmer – Fauna von Deutschland, 21st edn. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Shane SM, Montrose, Harrington KS (1985) Transmission of Campylobacter jejuni by the housefly (Musca domestica). Avian Dis 19:384–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinmüller 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

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukopp H, Wittig R (eds) (1998) Stadtökologie, 2nd edn. Stuttgart, Fischer

    Google Scholar 

  • Szalanski AL, Owens CB, McKay T, Steelman CD (2004) Detection of Campylobacter and Escherichia coli O157:H7 from filth flies by polymerase chain reaction. Med Vet Entomol 18:241–246

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szostakowska B, Kruminis-Lozowska W, Racewicz M, Knight R, Tamang L, Myjak P, Graczyk TK (2004) Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia recovered from flies on a cattle farm and in a landfill. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:3742–3744

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Umeche N, Mandah LE (1989) Musca domestica as a carrier of intestinal helminths in Calabar, Nigeria. East Afr Med J 66:349–352

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner AB (1989) Bacterial food poisoning. Texas Agricultural Extension Service publication no. L-1540. Texas Agricultural Extension Service, College Station

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2002a) Food safety and foodborne illness. Fact sheet no. 237. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2002b) Foodborne diseases, emerging. Fact sheet no. 124. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright EP (1983) The isolation of Camplylobacter jejuni from flies. J Hyg 91:223–226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yap KL, Kalpana M, Lee HL (2008) Wings of the common housefly (Musca domestica): importance of mechanical transmission of Vibrio cholera. Trop Biomed 25:1–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeruham I, Braverman Y, Shpigel NY, Chizov-Ginzburg A, Saran A, Winkler M (1996) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8903139 Mastitis in dairy cattle caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and the feasibility of transmission by houseflies. I. Vet Q 18:87–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarrin M, Vazirianzadeh B, Shams SS, Zarei Mahmoudabadi A, Rahdar M (2007) Isolation of fungi from housefly (Musca domestica) in Ahvaz, Iran. Pak J Med Sci 23:917–919

    Google Scholar 

  • Zumpt F (1949) Hausfliegen als Überträger von Seuchen, insbesondere der spiralen Kinderlähmung. Anz Schädl 11:161–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge support of the studies that are the basis of this chapter by Novartis, Basel, and by the joint governmental project (the Netherlands/North Rhine-Westphalia) Safeguard, subproject Campylobacter. Furthermore, we are grateful to I. Schaefers and S. Walter, who typed the text and arranged the photographic plates, respectively.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Parasitology, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Falk Gestmann, Maike Förster & Heinz Mehlhorn

  2. Novartis Animal Health Inc., WRO-1032.3.82, Schwarzwaldallee 215, 4058, Basel, Switzerland

    Kai Sievert

  3. Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Sabine Messler, Nicole Neuhausen, Sabine Petersdorf & Klaus Pfeffer

Authors
  1. Falk Gestmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maike Förster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Heinz Mehlhorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kai Sievert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sabine Messler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nicole Neuhausen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sabine Petersdorf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Klaus Pfeffer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heinz Mehlhorn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoomorphology, Cell Biology and Parasitology,, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstr. 1, Düsseldorf, 40225, Germany

    Heinz Mehlhorn

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gestmann, F. et al. (2012). Flies as Vectors of Microorganisms Potentially Inducing Severe Diseases in Humans and Animals. In: Mehlhorn, H. (eds) Arthropods as Vectors of Emerging Diseases. Parasitology Research Monographs, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28842-5_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation