Introducton

The housefly, Musca domestica Linnaeus, is a well-known cosmopolitan pest of both farm and home. This species is always found in association with humans and human activities, it is also found on hog and poultry farms, horse stables and ranches. Not only are houseflies a nuisance, but they can also transport disease-causing organisms. Excessive fly populations are not only an irritant to farm workers but, when there are nearby human habitations, a public health problem could occur ^[1]. The housefly is one of the most common and persistent insects found within human homes. In fact, the housefly has a strong, interdependent relationship with man and will travel with human populations to even the coldest region.

They are scavengers, consuming large quantities of decaying animal matter. However, some are injurious to humans by virtue of the fact that they feed on and breed in trash, decaying flesh, and bodily waste. This behaviour facilitates the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhoea, Staphylococcal food poisoning and Shigellosis ^{[2], [3]}. Housefly larvae, or maggots, will eat most decaying animal or vegetable matter ^[4]. The housefly (Musca domestica L.) is known to be a vector of diseases. These flies are prevalent in exposed items. Contamination of drinking water, food and other dairy products with faecal remains are common features in these areas. Hence the likelihood of human excrement being transmitted by flies is great ^[5]. Housefly are the most important insect pest associated with poultry, where the accumulated organic waste and favourable environmental conditions often promote rapid development of large populations ^[6]. The aim of this study is to isolate the microorganisms associated with housefly larva.

Materials and Methods

Fresh meat was exposed in shade for the infestation of houseflies. The developed maggots were collected with sterile forceps. Aseptic procedures were carried out so as to minimize contamination from bacteria not associated with the collected maggots.

Culture Media

Isolation of Internal and External Microbes

Culture Procedures

Characterization and Identification of Microbial Isolates

Results

It was observed that the bacterial isolates recovered were Staphylococus aureus and Pseudomonas sp (Table 1). While the fungal isolates observed were Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus (Table 2).

Figure 1

Table 1: Characteristics of the bacterial morphology and biochemical isolates of maggots

Figure 2

Table 2: Characteristics of fungal Isolates of maggots

Discussion

The houseflies are much more than a nuisance and that they pose serious health risks as mechanical vectors.

It was observed that the bacteria isolates recovered were gram positive bacteria (Staphlococus aureus) and gram negative (Pseudomonas), and they shows acidic response towards glucose, lactose and maltose and most of these microbes are pathogenic which is in accord with the work of Banjo et al. ^[7], where he isolated a variety of microorganisms, which includes the pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aerruginosa and Bacullus subtilis, and the work of Axtell ^[6], that isolated Pseudomonas spp. and Escherichia coli. The fungi recovered were Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, they are all pathogenic fungi that is liable to produce mycotoxin. The use of maggots as feed supplement for livestock and fishes is a common practise by the local farmers. The recovery of pathogenic microorganism as microflora of microbes such as Staphlococus aureus, Pseudomonas, and Aspergillus sp. can cause various infectious disease in livestocks. Staphlococus aureus is capable of causing toxigenic food poisoing and some other infectious disease which would result in diarrhoea ^[9]. Those diseases could be associated with livestock that have ingested the organism.

Conclusion

Houseflies move from animal or human faeces to food that will be eaten uncooked by humans. Also, when consumed by flies, some pathogens can be harboured in the mouthparts or alimentary canal for several days, and then be transmitted when flies defecate or regurgitate. In situations where plumbing is lacking, such as open latrines, serious health problems can develop, especially if there are outdoor food markets, hospitals, or slaughter houses nearby. Among the pathogens commonly transmitted by houseflies are Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Chlamydia, and many other species that cause illness. These flies are most commonly linked to outbreaks of diarrhoea and shigellosis, but also are implicated in transmission of food poisoning, typhoid fever, dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmic, and parasitic worms.