Abstract
Two separate experiments were conducted to determine the transfer of E. coli by fruit flies during short term exposure to apple slices and bologna. Short time exposure (1, 5 and 15 min) of flies to inoculated apple slices were tested in the first experiment to determine the transfer of E. coli to flies. No difference (P≤0.05) in the number of bacteria transferred to flies were found due to these exposure times. In the second experiment the transfer of E. coli from inoculated apple or bologna slices (5 min exposure) to un-inoculated slices (1, 5 and 15 min exposure) were tested. More bacteria were transferred to bologna at 1 and 5 min compared to apple while the number transferred did not differ at 15 min exposure. The percentage of E. coli transferred from inoculated food to flies was low (<0.5%) while the percentage transferred from flies to un-inoculated food was relatively high (>50%). This study found that flies can pick up and transfer bacteria to food in short exposure times.
Highlights
Introduction1.1 Flies Carry Infectious DiseasesPathogenic viruses (Calibeo-Hayes et al, 2003; Chakrabarti et al, 2008; Otake et al, 2004; Schurrer et al, 2005; Watson et al, 2007) bacteria (Ahmad et al, 2011; Doud et al, 2014; Fleming et al, 2014; Goush et al, 2014; Soheyliniya and Barin, 2014; Wei et al, 2014) and parasites (Balla et al, 2014; Graczyk et al, 2005; Szostakowska et al, 2004) have been found on flies
More bacteria were transferred to bologna at 1 and 5 min compared to apple while the number transferred did not differ at 15 min exposure
Bacteria that have been transmitted by flies include Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas spp, Chlamydia spp. and Klebsiella spp. (Echeverria et al, 1983; Kahn and Huq, 1978; Khin et al, 1989; Fotedar et al, 1992; Bidawid et al, 1978; Fukushima et al, 1979; Fotedar, 2001; Olsen, 2001; Forster et al, 2007)
Summary
1.1 Flies Carry Infectious DiseasesPathogenic viruses (Calibeo-Hayes et al, 2003; Chakrabarti et al, 2008; Otake et al, 2004; Schurrer et al, 2005; Watson et al, 2007) bacteria (Ahmad et al, 2011; Doud et al, 2014; Fleming et al, 2014; Goush et al, 2014; Soheyliniya and Barin, 2014; Wei et al, 2014) and parasites (Balla et al, 2014; Graczyk et al, 2005; Szostakowska et al, 2004) have been found on flies. Several types of flies live in close association with humans (synanthropic); including flesh flies, house flies, fruit flies and blowflies among others (Olsen, 1998). These families of flies (Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, and Calliphoridae) have become known as filth flies that breed in animal feces, garbage and other organic matter including food (Greenberg, 1973). Synanthropic flies transmit common food enteropathogens Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp. or enterohemorrhagic E. coli by direct contact with humans and via contamination of food (Bidawid et al, 1978). Over 50% of the house flies collected in a hospital were found to be a reservoir for bacteria that were resistant to at 10 antimicrobial agents http://jfr.ccsenet.org
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