Journal of Medical Entomology (2001) 38, 333-335

L. Zurek, S.S. Denning, C. Schal and D.W. Watson (2001)
Vector competence of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Journal of Medical Entomology 38 (2), 333-335
Abstract: The vector potential of adult house flies, Musca domestica L., for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Pfeiffer), a pathogen of domestic animals and humans, was investigated. Adult flies were allowed to feed on trypticase soy broth (TSB) containing Y. pseudotuberculosis for 6 h and then transferred to sterile containers with sterile TSB as a source of water and nutrients. At 6-h intervals, all flies were transferred to sterile containers with sterile TSB and 10 randomly selected flies were examined for the pathogen. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis did not establish a permanent population in the house fly colony; however, viable cells were detected from the digestive tract of flies for up to 36 h after the initial exposure, and flies contaminated their environment (sterile TSB) for up to 30 h after the exposure. These results demonstrated that house flies can carry Y. pseudotuberculosis for a considerable period and therefore must be considered as a potential mechanical vector of pseudotuberculosis infection.
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Database assignments for author(s): Ludek Zurek, David W. Watson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Musca domestica