Human helminth parasite burdens on cyclorrhaphan flies (Diptera) trapped at an aboriginal settlement in Malaysia

Abstract

AbstractThe human helminth parasite burdens on cyclorrhaphan flies was studied in an aboriginal settlement in Malaysia in 1987–88. Chrysomya megacephala (F.), which formed 79.5% of total fly population trapped in this settlement, had eggs of the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides, the pinworm Trichuris trichiura and hookworm (Necator americanus and/or Ancylostoma duodenale) on the external body surface and gut lumen. There was a close correlation between monthly rainfall and the mean numbers of C. megacephala caught per two trap-hours. Eggs (but no larvae) of the parasites were found on flies when the monthly rainfall and the C. megacephala population were relatively high, in April-June 1987, October-November 1987 and March 1988. Human helminth eggs were also isolated from C. rufifacies (Macquart) and Hemipyrellia tagaliana (Bigot), being recorded from the latter in Malaysia for the first time.