Electronic Journal of Biology

Microhabitats and Pathogens of Houseflies (Musca domestica): Public Health Concern

A study to assess the effects of microhabitats on pathogens of Musca domestica and also assess Musca domestica health related diseases was carried out in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. A total of 400 hundred houseflies were randomly sampled by using sweep net from four sites namely: refuse dumps, toilets, tomato/vegetable shops and soft drink shops in two localities, Shuwari III and Maduganari wards. The external and internal parasites were isolated and recorded. Chi-square and percentage prevalence of external and internal parasites were calculated and recorded. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of external parasites sampled from the different sampling sites as 2 ( ) 2 15 14.68 df x cal < x tab (24.99) at 5% level of significance. The hind gut showed the highest parasites percentage prevalence of 48.45% while the fore gut recorded the least prevalence of 23.71%. Chi-square analysis showed no significant difference as 2 ( ) 2 10 13.75 df x cal < x tab (18.31) at 5% level of significance. Assessment of housefly related diseases in the two communities revealed that diseases of public health significance like diarrhoea/abdominal cases, dysentery/abdominal pains and Eye sore/infection were prevalent in the health facilities with the month of August recording the highest disease cases and chi-square analysis showed no significant difference in the prevalence of housefly related diseases between the two communities. 2 ( ) 2 5 0.99 df x cal < x tab (11.07) at 5% level of significance. The harbouring of more parasites by the hindgut than any other part of the gut is an indication that contamination of foods could be through faecal means than by regurgitation. Furthermore, with the collections of a lot flies around human vicinity and the implications of the contamination of such flies with parasites, adequate control measures must therefore be taken to control their numbers and to avoid transmission of houseflies related diseases to humans.

Author(s):

Ahmadu YM, Goselle ON, Ejimadu LC, James Rugu NN

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