Gut Parasites of medical importance harboured by Musca domestica in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Housefly ( Musca domestica ), because of its body structure, filthy and feeding habits, is reported to be capable of carrying a variety of microbes, including potential pathogens, over its body appendages. Aims: This study aimed to investigate M. domestica in Calabar for pathogenic gut parasites, determine its role in parasitic diseases transmission, make appropriate recommendations toward its management and effective control of the associated parasitic diseases, and hence promote the society health status. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 M. domestica specimens (150 each from sanitary and insanitary areas, pooled in batches of five flies per pool) were used for the study. The parasites were detected from the spun deposits of fly body surface wash and gut contents using direct microscopy and formol-ether technique. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0, and Chi-square test at a significant level of P < 0.05. Results: Overall frequency of parasites detection was 46.7%, with helminths and protozoa showing similar frequency, 23.3% each. External body surface of flies recorded a statistically significant higher parasites frequency 76.7% than their gut contents 16.7% ( P = 0.000). A statistically significant higher parasite detection rate was observed in the insanitary (63.3%) than in sanitary areas (30.0%) ( P = 0.0114). The parasites detected in this study were Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 39.9%, hookworm (21.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides (17.9%), Trichuris trichiura (14.3%), and Giardia intestinalis (7.2%). Conclusion: This study has confirmed M. domestica in Calabar as a mechanical carrier of potential pathogenic gut parasites, especially in the insanitary areas, with E. histolytica/dispar being the most frequently encountered. Effective control of flies’ population in the human and animal habitats and increased public awareness on their health hazards are recommended.

Unveiling the Hidden Dangers: Enteropathogens Carried by Flies in Pudong New Area

“…M. domestica, in particular, consistently exhibited the highest levels of pathogen parasitism among the all habitats, a result that diverges from previous research conducted by Khamesipour et al[12]. Given the diverse feeding habits of M. domestica, which encompass a broad spectrum of organic materials such as refuse, waste material, and decaying food, coupled with their frequent presence in human environments, it is plausible that their extensive contact with human food sources and water reservoirs has facilitated their role as primary vectors for the transmission of the waterborne parasites B. hominis and Cryptosporidium [45]. The prevalence of a wide range of enteropathogens in M. domestica is most pronounced in regions with high residential density, a phenomenon that can be linked to the accumulation of domestic waste resulting from dense population concentrations.…”

The Composition of Zoophilic Fly Species in Eastern Ukraine

“…The housefly M. domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) is known for its ability to carry exogenous forms of ascarids, esophagostoma, and hookworm on its body (Förster et al, 2009;Otu-Bassey et al, 2022), and M. autumnalis is an intermediate host of Parafilaria bovicola (Hund et al, 2021). The M. domestica may act as as a potential mechanical vector or reservoir in the epidemiology of bovine leukemia virus (Panei et al, 2019) and contagious ovine ecthyma (Raele et al, 2021).…”

Neglected tropical diseases

“…[ 5 ] A 12-year study of cyclosporiasis from Uttar Pradesh[ 6 ] and a 2-year study of amebic liver abscess from Rajasthan[ 7 ] are reported in this issue. Various gut parasites found in the common fly is the subject of another article from Nigeria,[ 8 ] while the status of mass drug administration for filariasis in India during COVID-19 pandemic is reported in the other original article. [ 9 ]…”