Do Flies Cause Salmonella?
WouterThe answer to the question, “Do flies cause salmonella?” may surprise some people, but the answer is no. The evidence suggests that other animals, not flies, can cause Salmonella. However, the presence of Salmonella in flies may be underestimated. The prevalence of the bacteria in flies varies considerably, ranging from 2.2 to 15.2%. There are a few ways to tell whether a fly is infected with the pathogen.
The first way to determine if flies cause Salmonella is to study the feces of the insects themselves. Several studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence of Salmonella serovar enteritidis in fly feces. One study found that 55% of flies were positive 24 h after challenge, and at one week, the percentage increased to 100%. In the second week, the number of positive flies decreased.
Although many studies have examined the transmission of Salmonella serovar enteritidis from flies to poultry, few have studied the kinetics of infection and the location of Salmonella on the arthropod host. In the current study, researchers examined how long flies stay infected and whether these flies transmit the pathogen to hens.
Another study looked at how flies spread bacteria in poultry houses. Researchers found that the common housefly can transfer food poisoning bacteria to chickens. This bacteria can be transferred to humans through undercooked eggs or meat. In severe cases, the bacteria can lead to deadly infections.
