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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Specific sensitization to the common housefly (Musca domestica) not related to insect panallergy.

BACKGROUND: Allergy to houseflies is rare. We report a case of respiratory allergy from occupational exposure to houseflies in a farmer. CASE REPORT: A 30 year-old female farmer with a long-standing history of grass pollen allergy observed for 2 years rhino-conjunctivitis and mild asthma when entering livestock stables and barns. Allergy retesting revealed sensitization to various pollens but not to animal danders. Houseflies (Musca domestica) occurring on the farm in great quantity were suspected by the farmer herself as the causative agent. RESULTS: Skin prick testing with housefly was positive in the patient and negative in four controls. Experimental radioallergosorbant test was class 3 positive. Sensitization to house dust mite, storage mites and cockroach was not detectable. Western blots with housefly extracts revealed immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding to bands of 70, 50, and approximately 16 kDa. Tropomyosin in the housefly extract (35 kDa) was recognized by a tropomyosin reference serum but not by the patient. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition assays using housefly as the solid phase, IgE-binding of the patient was inhibited by 75% by M. domestica and by 44% by the closely related lesser housefly (Fannia canicularis), but not by extracts from blowfly (Lucilia spp.), fruit fly (Drosophila spp.), horsefly (Haematopota pluvialis) and mosquito (Culex pipiens). The IgE-binding of the tropomyosin control serum was inhibited by 60-80% by all species. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with previous reports, this case demonstrates that respiratory sensitization to insects may be highly specific. According to ELISA inhibition, cross-sensitization in the present case was restricted to species of the family of true flies (Muscidae).

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The housefly (Musca domestica) as a carrier of pathogenic microorganisms in a hospital environment.

Houseflies have long been regarded as potential carriers of microorganisms. Since pathogenic microorganisms are widespread in the hospital environment, there is abundant opportunity for flies to become contaminated and, in turn, to contaminate the patient environment. In the present study, an attempt was made to isolate and identify pathogenic bacteria, fungi and parasites from the housefly Musca domestica collected in the surgical ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and also in a remote residential area located 5 km from the hospital. A total of 113 flies were collected: 65 from a surgical ward (test) and 48 from a residential area for comparison. Ten genera of bacteria were isolated from the test group of flies compared with nine from the control group. In primary isolations, it was observed that the load of bacteria carried by the test group of flies was significantly more (P less than 0.001) than for the control flies. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and viridans streptococci were isolated only from the test flies. The isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in test houseflies than in the control houseflies. There was no significant difference in isolation of parasitic ova and cysts from test and control houseflies. Candida spp. were isolated in almost equal numbers from both groups of houseflies, yet none of these was Candida albicans. Houseflies therefore may act as vectors of potentially pathogenic bacteria in a hospital environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Immunological comparison of cytosolic glutathione S-transferases between rat and two strains of houseflies.

Five different antisera, which include three antisera raised against rat liver glutathione S-transferases (GST), one antiserum raised against human pi GST, and one antiserum raised against housefly GST1, were used to examine their cross-reactivity with different classes of GST subunits isolated from rat liver and the housefly. Two classes of rat liver GSTs, alpha and mu, were isolated from rat liver and two classes of housefly GSTs, GST1 and GST2, were isolated from both CSMA and Cornell-R strains. Antiserum against GST 3-3 was the most reactive antiserum and reacted not only with the mu class of GSTs but also with the GST1 class from both CSMA and Cornell-R strains. Antiserum against human pi GST and antiserum against housefly GST1 had weak immunological reactivity toward the GST1 class from both strains of housefly. Antiserum against GST 4-4 and antiserum against GST 1-1 had no immunological reactivity toward any class of GSTs from housefly. None of the five antisera had any immunological cross-reactivity toward subunit 2 of the alpha class of rat GST and the GST2 class of housefly GSTs from both strains.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

CYP6D1 protects thoracic ganglia of houseflies from the neurotoxic insecticide cypermethrin.

CYP6D1 is a housefly cytochrome P450 known to metabolize neurotoxic pyrethroid insecticides. To determine if the nervous system was capable of metabolizing pyrethroids, we examined CYP6D1-mediated in vitro metabolism in thoracic ganglia from pyrethroid-resistant (LPR) and -susceptible (CS) strains of housefly. SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting revealed that CYP6D1 was expressed in all tagmata and in thoracic ganglia of both strains, but in all cases the levels of CYP6D1 were higher in the LPR strain. Using a CYP6D1-specific antiserum, we found CYP6D1 to be the major, and possibly the only, P450 isozyme involved in cypermethrin metabolism in thoracic ganglia homogenates. Additionally, thoracic ganglia homogenates from LPR houseflies metabolize more cypermethrin than preparations from susceptible flies. This metabolism was inhibited by piperonyl butoxide and a CYP6D1-specific antibody. Our results indicate that thoracic ganglia of LPR houseflies are protected from the neurotoxin cypermethrin by virtue of the higher levels of CYP6D1 compared to the susceptible houseflies. This P450-mediated detoxification of an insecticide at the level of the target tissue helps to explain the high levels of resistance to pyrethroids in the LPR strain.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Contrasting patterns of DNA sequence arrangement in Apis mellifera (honeybee) and Musca domestica (housefly).

We have examined the organization of the repeated and single copy DNA sequences in the genomes of two insects, the honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the housefly (Musca domestica). Analysis of the reassociation kinetics of honeybee DNA fragments 330 and 2,200 nucleotides long shows that approximately 90% of both size fragments is composed entirely of non-repeated sequences. Thus honeybee DNA contains few or no repeated sequences interspersed with nonrepeated sequences at a distance of less than a few thousand nucleotides. On the other hand, the reassociation kinetics of housefly DNA fragments 250 and 2,000 nucleotides long indicates that less than 15% of the longer fragments are composed entirely of single copy sequences. A large fraction of the housefly DNA therefore contains repeated sequences spaced less than a few thousand nucleotides apart. Reassociated repetitive DNA from the housefly was treated with S1 nuclease and sized on agarose A-50. The S1 resistant sequences have a bimodal distribution of lengths. Thirty-three percent is greater than 1,500 nucleotide pairs, and 67% has an average size about 300 nucleotide pairs. The genome of the housefly appears to have at least 70% of its DNA arranged as short repeats interspersed with single copy sequences in a pattern qualitatively similar to that of most eukaryotic genomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Chlorocyclohexane insecticides and male medfly attractants: similar stereospecificity for neuroactivity and interactions with a housefly [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding site.

[35S]t-Butylbicyclophosphorothionate [( 35S]TBPS) undergoes saturable specific binding to a membrane preparation from housefly thoraxes and abdomens with apparent Kd and Bmax values at equilibrium of 0.17 microM and 2.2 pmol/mg protein at 20 degrees C. Lindane is more potent than three other isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane as a toxicant for houseflies and in displacing [35S]TBPS from this housefly membrane preparation. This correlation of similar stereospecificity for neuroactivity and interaction with the TBPS receptor extends to the Mediterranean fruit fly male attractant trimedlure and its components and analogs. The relative attractancy of t-butyl cis-4-chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexanecarboxylate and of three less active isomers of this trans-chlorocyclohexane-carboxylate parallel their potency in the [35S]TBPS binding assay. With both trimedlure and the related cyclohexene attractant siglure the trans-isomers are more potent than the cis-isomers as attractants and in displacing [35S]TBPS. Scatchard analyses indicate that lindane binds at the same site as [35S]TBPS. The hexachlorocyclohexane isomers and trimedlure components are much more potent inhibitors with membrane preparations from houseflies than from rat brain. The housefly TBPS receptor possibly serves as a model for the primary target sites, thereby suggesting that both the insecticide and the attractant may interact with some component of the putative GABAergic nervous or neuromuscular system.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Induction of multiple cytochrome P-450 species in housefly microsomes--SDS-gel electrophoresis studies.

1. Microsomal fractions isolated from various housefly strains have been characterized with respect to multiple forms of cytochrome P-450 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. Susceptible NAIDM houseflies were pretreated with known inducers of cytochrome P-450, and their microsomal electrophoretic profiles were compared to control NAIDM microsomes, using as standards partially purified cytochrome P-450s from noninduced NAIDM houseflies. 3. Tentatively, at least five different species of cytochrome P-450 may exist in the NAIDM housefly strain. 4. A comparison of the microsomal electrophoretic profile of different housefly strains also indicates the presence of at least two additional cytochrome P-450 species. 5. Induction with alpha-pinene and phenobarbital was expressed by a shift of the maximum absorbance at 452 nm in the CO-difference spectrum to lower wavelengths in the NAIDM strain; whereas, beta-naphthoflavone, although increasing the amount of cytochrome P-450, did not change the wavelength of maximum absorbance. 6. Cytochromes of the P-452 type appear to predominate in the susceptible NAIDM strain, while cytochromes of the P-450 and P-448 types predominate in resistant strains.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Structure-activity relationships of seco-prezizaane terpenoids in gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors of houseflies and rats.

Thirteen seco-prezizaane terpenoids isolated from star anise species (Illcium floridanum, Illcium parviflorum, and Illcium verum) were investigated for their ability to inhibit the specific binding of [(3)H]4'-ethynyl-4-n-propylbicycloorthobenzoate (EBOB), a non-competitive antagonist of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, to housefly-head and rat-brain membranes. Veranisatin A was found to be the most potent inhibitor in both membranes, with an IC(50)(fly) of 78.5 nM and an IC(50)(rat) of 271 nM, followed by anisatin (IC(50)(fly)=123 nM; IC(50)(rat)=282 nM). Six of the other 11 tested compounds were effective only in housefly-head membranes. Pseudoanisatin proved to display a high (>26-fold) selectivity for housefly versus rat GABA receptors (IC(50)(fly)=376 nM; IC(50)(rat) >10,000 nM). Although pseudoanisatin does not structurally resemble EBOB, Scatchard plots indicated that the two compounds bind to the same site in housefly receptors. Anisatin and pseudoanisatin exhibited moderate insecticidal activity against German cockroaches. Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), a method of three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) analysis, demonstrated that seco-prezizaane terpenoids can bind to the same site as do picrotoxane terpenoids such as picrotoxinin and picrodendrins, and the CoMFA maps allowed us to identify the parts of the molecules essential to high activity in housefly GABA receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Vector potential of houseflies for the bacterium Aeromonas caviae.

Houseflies, Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae), have been implicated as vectors or transporters of numerous gastrointestinal pathogens encountered during feeding and ovipositing on faeces. The putative enteropathogen Aeromonas caviae (Proteobacteria: Aeromonadaceae) may be present in faeces of humans and livestock. Recently A. caviae was detected in houseflies by PCR and isolated by culture methods. In this study, we assessed the vector potential of houseflies for A. caviae relative to multiplication and persistence of the bacterium in the fly and to contamination of other flies and food materials. In experimentally fed houseflies, the number of bacteria increased up to 2 days post-ingestion (d PI) and then decreased significantly 3 d PI. A large number of bacteria was detected in the vomitus and faeces of infected flies at 2-3 d PI. The bacteria persisted in flies for up to 8 d PI, but numbers were low. Experimentally infected flies transmitted A. caviae to chicken meat, and transmissibility was directly correlated with exposure time. Flies contaminated the meat for up to 7 d PI; however, a significant decrease in contamination was observed 2-3 d PI. In the fly-to-fly transmission experiments, the transmission of A. caviae was observed and was apparently mediated by flies sharing food. These results support houseflies as potential vectors for A. caviae because the bacterium multiplied, persisted in flies for up to 8 d PI, and could be transmitted to human food items.

Aeromonas↗
PubMed1997

Vector potential of houseflies (Musca domestica) for Helicobacter pylori.

The mode of transmission of Helicobacter pylori is unknown. Since viable bacteria have been shown to be excreted in feces from infected individuals and houseflies habitually develop and feed on excrement, we hypothesized that flies ingest and harbor H. pylori and, in turn, contaminate the human environment. This study examined the possible vector potential of houseflies (Musca domestica) for H. pylori. Caged houseflies were exposed to freshly grown H. pylori on agar plates. After a 6-h feeding period, the plates were removed and were replaced with sterile petri dishes containing a droplet of sterile brucella broth. At regular intervals, small numbers of houseflies were removed for microbiological and histological analysis, and the petri dishes were replaced with fresh sterile plates with fresh drops of brucella broth. The flies' bodies, the flies' dissected alimentary tracts, and excreta on the petri dishes were cultured for H. pylori, whose identity was confirmed by the urease, catalase, and oxidase reactions and Gram staining. In contrast to control flies, viable H. pylori could be isolated from external surfaces for up to 12 h and from gut and excreta for as long as 30 h after the initial feeding period. After 30 h other gram-negative bacteria overgrew the cultures of samples from all locations tested, rendering the selective culture of H. pylori colonies impossible. Histological analysis revealed Helicobacter-like organisms in the gut lumen and attached to intestinal epithelial cells. We conclude that houseflies can harbor viable H. pylori on their bodies and in their intestinal tracts. They are also able to disseminate viable H. pylori in excreta, and they may therefore present a significant reservoir and be a vector in the transmission of H. pylori.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Houseflies are an unlikely reservoir or vector for Helicobacter pylori.

The route of transmission of Helicobacter pylori from individual to individual remains undefined. It has recently been reported that the domestic housefly, Musca domestica, when fed pure cultures of H. pylori, was able to harbor the organism in its midgut for up to 30 h (P. Grubel, S. Hoffman, F. K. Chong, N. A. Barstein, C. Mepani, and D. R. Cave, J. Clin. Microbiol. 35:1300-1303, 1997). Our investigation examined whether houseflies could acquire H. pylori from fresh human feces. Domestic houseflies (40 flies/group) were exposed for 24 h to feces from an H. pylori-positive volunteer, feces from an H. pylori-negative volunteer, or feces from an H. pylori-negative volunteer to which a known amount of viable H. pylori had been added. At various intervals, flies were sacrificed and the midguts were excised, homogenized, and plated in duplicate onto selective horse blood agar plates. All plates were incubated under microaerobic conditions at 37 degreesC for 14 days. Emergent colonies presumptive of H. pylori were picked and tested biochemically to confirm the identity as H. pylori. H. pylori was not recovered from houseflies fed human feces either naturally infected or artificially infected with H. pylori. These results suggest that the domestic housefly is not a vector for transmission or a reservoir for H. pylori infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Studies on the carriage and transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by individual houseflies (Musca domestica).

The objectives of the study were to determine the site of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in individual houseflies, to assess whether an individual housefly could transmit PRRSV to a susceptible pig, and to compare the ability of PCR, virus isolation and a pig bioassay to detect PRRSV in houseflies. In the first experiment 26 houseflies were fed on a pig infected experimentally with PRRSV; 13 were processed as a whole fly homogenate, while an exterior surface wash and a gut homogenate were collected from the other 13. Infectious PRRSV was recovered from nine of the whole fly homogenates, 12 of the gut homogenates and one of the exterior surface washes. In the second experiment, two of 10 individual houseflies, which had fed on an infected pig, transmitted PRRSV to a susceptible pig in a controlled manual transmission protocol. In the third experiment, single flies or pools of 30 flies were immersed in different concentrations of a PRRSV inoculum, then tested by PCR, virus isolation and bioassay. The virus was detected at a concentration of 10(1) TCID50/ml by PCR, 10(2) TCID50/ml by the bioassay and 10(3) TCID50/ml by virus isolation.

Animals↗