Isolation of Fungi from House fly (Musca domestica) at Slaughter House and Public Places in Riyadh

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of biology, College of Science, association prof. entomology, Princes Nora Bint Abd-Elrahman University, P.O. Box 22491, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

House flies have long been regarded as potential carriers of microorganisms especially fungi. Since pathogenic microorganisms are widespread in the environment, there is abundant opportunity for flies to become contaminated and in turn to contaminate the human environment and residential regions. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify fungi which transmitted by flies and present in environment at the Slaughter House and Public Places. In this study, a total of 250 Musca domestica (125 flies from the Slaughter House environments and 125 flies from the public places) were collected in Riyadh. Flies were treated and Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA) was used for isolation of fungi. The main fungus isolates were Aspergillus spp. (66%). Penecillium spp. (14%), Fusarium spp. (11.3%), Alternaria spp. (6%) and among the filamentous fungi, (8.6%) of the isolates as Microsporum gypseum of dermatophytes was identified. The present study supports belief that the house fly is a carrier for fungal spores. Therefore they have to be controlled and density of their population should be reduced undertaken different vector control approaches.

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