The potential of house flies to act as a vector of avian influenza subtype H5N1 under experimental conditions

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine the potential for house flies (Musca domestica L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) to harbour the avian influenza (AI) H5N1 virus. Laboratory-reared flies were experimentally fed with a mixture containing the AI virus. Exposed flies were washed with brain-heart infusion broth and followed by 70% alcohol before preparation of whole fly homogenate. The homogenate was inoculated into six 10-day-old embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). Allantoic fluids were collected to determine the virus using the haemagglutination (HA) test, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RRT-PCR). In the first experiment, ECEs that were inoculated with the 50 AI virus exposed fly homogenates died within 48 h and HA and RT-PCR were positive for AI virus. In the second experiment, ECEs that were inoculated with only one fly died with positive HA test and RT-PCR. In the last experiment, a group of exposed flies was collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h post-exposure. Fly homogenates of each time point were tested by virus titration in ECEs and RRT-PCR. Virus titres declined in relation to exposure time. Furthermore, RRT-PCR results were positive at any time point. The present study shows that the flies may harbour the AI virus and could act as a mechanical vector of the AI virus.

Fly emergence from manure of Japanese quail fed thymol- or isoeugenol-supplemented diets

“…Recently, we detected species from the following families developing in Japanese quail droppings: Muscidae, Calliphoridae, Piophilidae, Phoridae, Fanniidae, and Milichiidae (Battán Horenstein et al, 2014). The most abundant species were M. domestica, followed by O. aenescens, both Muscidae of sanitary relevance (Wanaratana et al, 2011). In the present study we detected 8 different taxa from 5 families of Diptera.…”

“…Saprophagous flies are mechanical vectors of pathogenic bacteria such as species of Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Streptococcus (Nazni et al, 2005) and enteropathogens such as Escherichia coli, and Aeromonas caviae (Barnard, 2003); protozoan parasites of humans Blastocystis hominis, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, and Cyclospora cayetanensis (Cárdenas and Martínez, 2004); helminths (de Oliveira et al, 2002); potentially viruses such as avian influenza H5N1 virus (Wanaratana et al, 2011), and Newcastle disease (Barin et al, 2010). In poultry, flies have also been related to salmo-nellosis (Mian et al, 2002), campylobacteriosis (Ekdahl et al, 2005) and were considered a potential route of transmission of pathogens to newly laid eggs (Axtell and Arends, 1990).…”

Potential for biocontrol of house flies,Musca domestica,using fungal biopesticides

“…High fly populations have been shown to reduce both egg production and quality, and can potentially transmit a number of human and poultry diseases (Axtell, 1986(Axtell, -1999Forster et al, 2007;Malik, Singh, & Satya, 2007;Olsen & Hammack, 2000;Wanarata, Panyim, & Pakpinyo, 2011).…”

Efficacy of cyantraniliprole fly bait against housefly (Musca domestica L.) under laboratory conditions

“…The housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is both a serious nuisance pest and an important mechanical vector for many bacterial and viral pathogens (De Jesus et al 2004;Förster et al 2007;Nayduch et al 2002;Wanaratana et al 2011). To date, the control of houseflies in China has relied on two types of insecticides administered as sprays or toxic baits.…”