Isolation of Salmonella spp. from the Housefly, Musca domestica L., and the Dump Fly, Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae), at Caged-Layer Houses

Abstract

Flies, especially houseflies, are widely recognized as potential reservoirs and vectors of foodborne Salmonella pathogens. In this study, flies were collected at caged-layer facilities that had produced eggs that were implicated as the food vehicle in two recent outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections. The flies were separated by species into pools for microbiological testing. A total of 15 species pools of houseflies, Musca domestica L., and 7 species pools of bronze dump flies, Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae), were analyzed. Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from 2 of the 15 pools of houseflies. Other species of Salmonella were isolated from three pools of flies, including Salmonella Infantis from houseflies and from dump flies and Salmonella Heidelberg from houseflies. Salmonella Mbandaka was isolated from a lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).