Bacteriological assessment of common fly (Musca domestica) as a potential carrier for public health epidemics

Abstract

House fly (Musca domestica) plays a pivotal role in the transmission of various antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, posing a huge risk to public health. Both global and national research has shown that Musca domestica is an important vector of pathogens that is directly and indirectly responsible for the rapid increase of multidrug-resistant pathogens. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the types of bacteria commonly associated with houseflies, with a specific focus on enteric pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and others. Along with that, this study has also seen the resistance pattern of these bacteria. The study was conducted primarily divided into two seasons (October-February) and (March-July) in 3 different settings (Residential area, Fish Markets, and Street food) among 7 major areas (Ramna, Shahbag, Khilgaon, Paltan, Motijheel, Jatrabari, and Dhanmondi) of Dhaka city. From these 7 different areas, 53 samples of house flies were obtained, and from those 53 specimens, around 159 isolates of different bacteria were found. From this study, the highest number of bacterial isolates was found to be of Vibrio spp. (44.65%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (23.27%). Again lowest isolates found were Salmonella spp. (1.26%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.66%). Among the isolates, Escherichia coli showed resistance to cefixime, amixoclav and azithromycin at an alarming rate 83%, 67%, and 83% respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed 100% resistance to amixoclav and cefixime, but Klebsiella pneumoniae raised an alarm as it is 83% resistant to cefixime. Vibrio spp and Shigella spp. Showed moderate mixed results.