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. 2024 Jun 7;24(1):569.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-024-09448-0.

Unveiling the hidden dangers: enteropathogens carried by flies in Pudong New Area

Chen Lin  1   2 , Jun Liu  1   2 , Yongting Yuan  1   2 , Siyu Yu  1   2 , Lei Feng  1   2 , Yingpei Gu  1   2 , Xinchen Lu  1   2 , Jingyi Liu  1   2 , Huihui Li  1   2 , Chenxi Hu  1   2 , Hongxia Liu  3 , Hanzhao Liu  4   5
Affiliations

Unveiling the hidden dangers: enteropathogens carried by flies in Pudong New Area

Chen Lin et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Flies are acknowledged as vectors of diseases transmitted through mechanical means and represent a significant risk to human health. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of enteropathogens carried by flies in Pudong New Area to inform strategies for preventing and controlling flies.

Methods: Samples were collected from various locations in the area using cage trapping techniques between April and November 2021, encompassing various habitats such as parks, residential areas, restaurants, and farmers' markets. The main fly species were identified using cryomicrography and taxonomic enumeration, with 20 samples per tube collected from different habitats. Twenty-five enteropathogens were screened using GI_Trial v3 TaqManTM microbial arrays.

Results: A total of 3,875 flies were collected from 6,400 placements, resulting in an average fly density of 0.61 flies per cage. M. domestica were the most common species at 39.85%, followed by L. sericata at 16.57% and B. peregrina at 13.14%. Out of 189 samples, 93 tested positive for enteropathogens, with nine different pathogens being found. 12.70% of samples exclusively had parasites, a higher percentage than those with only bacteria or viruses. The study found that M. domestica had fewer enteropathogens than L. sericata and B. peregrina, which primarily harbored B. hominis instead of bacteria and viruses such as E. coli, Astrovirus, and Sapovirus. During spring testing, all three fly species exhibited low rates of detecting enteropathogens. M. domestica were found in residential areas with the highest number of pathogen species, totaling six. In contrast, L. sericata and B. peregrina were identified in farmers' markets with the highest number of pathogen species, totaling six and seven, respectively.

Conclusions: Flies have the potential to serve as vectors for the transmission of enteropathogens, thereby posing a substantial risk to public health.

Keywords: Boettcherisca Peregrina; Lucilia Sericata; Musca domestica; Bacteria; Enteropathogens; Fly; Parasites; Viruses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map showing of monitoring town in Pudong New Area Shanghai, in Eastern China
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Displays the enteropathogens identified in fly species
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Shows the identification of enteropathogens carried by fly species throughout various seasons
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Illustrates the various types of enteropathogens harbored by different species of fly across various habitat types (A)M. domestica transports enteropathogens across various habitat types. (B)L. sericata transports enteropathogens across various habitat types. (C)B. peregrina transports enteropathogens across various habitat types
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Illustrates the comparison between the detection of enteropathogens in fly species and human beings
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Presents a comparative analysis of the monthly distribution patterns of enteropathogens detection rates in fly species and human beings
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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