Re:Flies on the Farm

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

While it is true that flies can carry pathogens (see below) the problem is

the amount of feces a fly would have to carry to cause a problem would

require a fly the size of a crow even in an immune compromised person. The

PCR method used in the study below can conclusively show what is present,

however, it amplifies any pathogen DNA thousands or more times, and is able

to detect minute amounts of anything present, so low that just because it is

present does not indicate there is enough to cause a disease. E coli must

be ingested, and it is not like the fly is going to bite and transmit

disease like a mosquito would (yes, flies bite but that is not how e coli is

transmitted.) It is so sad that so much vile misinformation is being

allowed to be spewed here in this group. Thank you for sharing the farmer's

practical perspective of the flies. I hope that and the information here

will squelch any doubt our resident pooh stirrer is causing.

Carol

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Detection of Campylobacter and Escherichia coli O157:H7 from filth flies by

polymerase chain reaction

A. L. Szalanski 1

<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118774639/abstract?CRETRY=1 & SRET

RY=0#c1#c1> *, C. B. Owens 1 , T. Mckay 1 and C. D. Steelman 1

1 Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville,

Arkansas, U.S.A.

Correspondence to *A. L. Szalanski, Department of Entomology, University

of Arkansas, 319 Agri Bldg, Fayetteville, AR 72701, U.S.A. E-mail:

<mailto:> aszalan@...

Copyright The Royal Entomological Society, 2004

KEYWORDS

Adia cinerella . Campylobacter . Escherichia coli . Hydrotaea aenescens .

DNA . house fly . molecular diagnostics . stable fly

Abstract.

Abstract

<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118774639/abstract?CRETRY=1 & SRET

RY=0#ss1#ss1> Introduction

<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118774639/abstract?CRETRY=1 & SRET

RY=0#ss2#ss2> Methods

<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118774639/abstract?CRETRY=1 & SRET

RY=0#ss7#ss7> Results

<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118774639/abstract?CRETRY=1 & SRET

RY=0#ss8#ss8> Discussion

<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118774639/abstract?CRETRY=1 & SRET

RY=0#ss9#ss9> Acknowledgements

<http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118774639/abstract?CRETRY=1 & SRET

RY=0#ss10#ss10> References

Abstract. Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) that breed in faeces and other organic

refuse (filth flies) have been implicated as vectors of pathogenic bacteria

including Escherichia coli O157:H7, which cause haemorrhagic colitis in

humans, and Campylobacter, which is the principal causative agent of human

enteritis. The potential role of filth flies in the epidemiology of these

pathogens in the United States was investigated by examining the prevalence

of Campylobacter spp. and E. coli O157:H7 from two Arkansas turkey

facilities. Polymerase chain reaction was conducted on DNA extractions of

individual Musca domestica Linnaeus, Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus),

Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann), Adia cinerella Fallen and turkey faecal

samples using primers specific for E. coli H7, O157 and Campylobacter spp.

Culturing verified that the flies were carrying viable Campylobacter spp.

and E. coli O157:H7. Results from this study indicated that M. domestica, S.

calcitrans, H. aenescens and Anthomyids are capable of carrying

Campylobacter in North American poultry facilities and that the E. coli

O157:H7 is carried by house flies and black dump flies associated with

poultry. This PCR method provided a rapid and effective method to identify

Campylobacter spp. and E. coli O157:H7 directly from individual filth flies.