O.P.G. Nmorsi, N.C.D. Ukwandu & G.E. Agbozele

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J Vect Borne Dis 43, September 2006, pp. 136–139Detection of some gastrointestinal parasites from four synanthropicflies in Ekpoma, NigeriaO.P.G. Nmorsia, N.C.D. Ukwandub & G.E. AgbozeleaaTropical Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology; bSpecial Pathogens & Infectious Diseases Research Unit,Department of Medical Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, NigeriaKey words Abattoir – gastrointestinal parasites –  house environment (kitchen) –  market fish shop – Nigeria – pit latrines –synanthropic fliesSynanthropic flies abound in the tropics especially inareas with substandard environmental sanitary con-ditions.  Here, they constitute serious public nuisance.These flies through their filthy breeding habits, feed-ing mechanisms and indiscriminate travel, betweenfilth and food, make some groups of these synanthrop-ic insects such as non-biting flies as efficient vectorsof human enteric protozoan parasites1.  In other partsof the globe, information on the occurrence of veteri-nary and medically important parasitic agents, non-biting flies such as Musca domestica exists2–11. De-spite the abundance of filth flies in our locality, thereis dearth of information on their role as mechanicaltransmitters of parasitic infections.  This paper, apartfrom enriching the only existing information on thissubject in other parts of Nigeria12-15, reports for thefirst time the association of ten parasites and synan-thropic flies in Ekpoma, Nigeria.This investigation was carried out between Decem-ber 2004 and June 2005 in Ekpoma, Edo State Nige-ria that is located on latitude 6oN and longitude 6oE.April to October marks the rainy season while No-vember to March is the dry season with relativelylow rainfall. The monthly temperature ranges 34 to37oC.  The pattern of the temperature in combina-tion with high rainfall and relative humidity resultsin a climate that is warm and humidity in greaterperiod of the year. Further, poor sanitary facilities,poor water management practices, indiscriminatedisposal of waste materials, etc are contributory fac-tors for congenial atmosphere for proliferation ofsynanthropic flies in the study area.Two hundred and ninety three (293) synanthropic flieswere captured by a sweep net method over the  sur-faces where flies visited.  Flies were placed into la-beled plastic container and transported immediatelyto Parasitology Laboratory of Zoology Departmentfor further procession. About 5 ml of formol salinewas added into each universal bottle containing fliesand shaken vigorously to dislodge the parasites fromthe exoskeleton (body) especially hair of the flies.  Thefluid was transferred into a conical tube and centri-fuged at 3000 rpm for 5 min. The sediment was ex-amined microscopically for parasites under x40 mag-nification.  The parasites were also quantified.  Thesediments were stained by using modified Ziehl Niels-en stain   for the identification of C. parvum16. Theflies were later dissected and the gut examined forparasites. The data were subjected to statistical analy-sis using Microsoft Excel.NMORSI et al: GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES OF SYNANTHROPIC FLIES 137The abundance of synanthropic flies in 4 differentlocations namely abattoir, market shops, pit latrinesand house environment (kitchen) are presented. Of thesesites, the highest fly abundance of 135 was recorded inabattoir while the least (37) occurred in the house envi-ronment (kitchen). Of the 4 types of flies collected, M.domestica dominated and accounted for 221 (75.4%)of the local fly population and F. scalaris 12 (4.1%)had the least abundance rate (Table 1).Table 2 presents the parasite load of the four fly spe-cies investigated.  The highest mean load of 54 para-sites/ml was observed among the M. domestica whichharboured eight out of the ten parasites recovered.  C.putoria had the least parasite load of 8 parasites/ml.The difference was found to be statistically signifi-cant (F = 4.88, p < 0.05) using ANOVA.The flies caught from the pit latrine had the highestparasite load while it was least in the house environ-ment. Also the highest fly abundance was observedfrom the abattoir.The mean parasite load of  81 parasites/ml was re-covered from the exoskeleton while the least of 5parasites/ml occurred in the gut of the flies.Table 1.  Distribution of flies in the four sampling sites in Ekpoma, NigeriaSynanthropic flies Sampling sitesAbattoir House environment Market Pit Total (Kitchen) shop latrines no. (%)M. domestica 104 30 33 54 221 (75.4)F. scalaris – – – 12 12 (4.1)C. putoria 22 – 12 – 34 (11.6)O.  leucostoma 9 7 – 10 26 (8.9)Table 2.  The mean parasitic load of ten gastrointestinal parasites isolated from four fly hosts in Ekpoma, NigeriaParasites Fly host and mean parasitic loadM. domestica F. scalaris C. putoria O. leucostomaChilomastrix mesnili –1 – –Cryptosporidum parvum 71 1 –Entamoeba histolytica 34 3 –Isospora belli 11 2 2 3Ascaris lumbricoides 13 1 – –Dicrocoelium hospes –– 1 1 2Enterobius vermicularis 1– – –Hookworm 4 – 1 –Strongloides stecoralis 10 – – –Trichuris trichiura 5– – –Total 54 9 8 15138 J  VECT  BORNE  DIS  43, SEPTEMBER  2006The present study demonstrated that four synanthrop-ic flies in Ekpoma, Nigeria carried ten different gas-trointestinal parasites.  This association elucidatedthe routes of mechanical transmission of some im-portant and predominant tropical diseases such asgastroenteritis/diarrheic diseases and other humanhelminthiasis which abound in the locality despitethe growing/increasing level of personal hygiene.This study collaborates the investigations2-6 whichreported the presence of some pathogens like C. par-vum, E.  histolytica and Isospora sp among somefilth flies such as M. domestica.Graczyk et al2 reported that members of Muscidaewere predominant flies recorded among four differ-ent families of synanthropic flies studied.  This as-sertion is proved valid by the findings of the presentinvestigation where we reported M.  domestica ac-counting for more than 70% of the flies captured.Also the relatively highest parasite load encounteredamong the flies from pit latrines delineate it as themajor site of contamination and subsequent trans-mission of these parasites in the locality under study.Some of the parasites reported cause morbidity andoften, mortality arising from their infection in man.For instance, C. parvum is an anthropozoonotic pro-tozoan parasite that significantly contributes to mor-tality in human with various immune system impair-ments17, and diarrhoea disease is initiated by theoocyst, a microscopic stage of this parasite.  It is be-lieved that in those with impaired immune system, asingle oocyst can initiate infection18.  In spite of theflies’ immune mechanisms, it is of note, that a lot ofsimilar parasite forms were harvested from the gutand exoskeleton. We suggest that irrespective of someimmune modulations of the parasite forms while in-side the flies’ gut, there was no change in morpholo-gy, viability and infectivity of those harvested fromthe gut and the exoskeleton although, the parasiteload may varied. Also, synanthropic flies are report-ed as major epidemiologic factors responsible forthe spread of acute gastroenteritis and trachomaamongst infants and young children in predominantlydeveloping countries5. A. lumbricoidses, T. trichu-ria, hookworm, etc are causative agents of humanhelminthiasis.  Since this report revealed the pres-ence of these pathogens from the exoskeleton andguts of synanthropic flies in a developing tropicalenvironment, it becomes imperative to urgently in-stitute control measures of these flies through mas-sive education on improving the existing standardof environmental sanitary conditions.AcknowledgementsWe acknowledge with thanks the staff  of  ZonalMinistry of Agriculture and Development Pro-gramme, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria for the provisionof data on  rainfall.References1. Graczyk TK, Knight R, Tarnang L.  Mechanical trans-mission of human protozoan parasites by insects.  CliniMicrobiol Rev 2005; 18(1):  128–32.2. Graczyk JK, Grimes BH, Dasilva AJ, Pieniazek NJ, VealDA. Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardialamblia carried by synanthropic flies by combined fluo-rescent in situ hybridization and a monoclonal antibody.Am J Trop Med Hyg 2003; 68(2): 228–32.3. Graezyk TK, Fayer R, Knight R, Mhangami-Ruwende B,Trout JM, DaSaliva AJ, Pieniazek NJ. Mechanical trans-port and transmission of Cryptosporidium parvum oocystsby wild filth flies.  Am J Trop Med Hyg 2000; 63(3):178–83.4. Graczyk TK, Cranfield MR, Fayer R, Bixler H.  House-flies  (Musca domestica) as transport hosts ofCryptosporidium  parvum.  Am J Trop Med Hyg 1999;61(3): 5000–4.5. Graezyk JK, Knight R, Eilman RH, Grankold MR.  Therole of non-biting flies in the epidemiology human infec-tious diseases.  Microbes Infect 2001; 3(3):  231–5.6. Szostatowsta B, Kruminis-Lozowsta W, Racewiz M,Tamong RL, Myjak P, Graczyk TK. Cryptosporidiumparvum filth flies on a cattle farm and in a landfill. ApplEnviron Microbiol 2004;  701(6):  3742–4.NMORSI et al: GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES OF SYNANTHROPIC FLIES 1397. Cladel A, Doiz O. Morales S. Varea M. Seral C. CastilloJ. Fleta J. Rubio C, Gomez-Lus R. Housefly (Musca do-mestica) as a transport vector of Cryptosporidium par-uum.  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Ann Rev  Pub  Hlth  1997;18: 135–61.Corresponding  author: Prof. OPG. Nmorsi, Tropical Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Ambrose AlliUniversity, Ekpoma, NigeriaE-mail: nmorsiopg@yahoo.comReceived:  3 February 2006    Accepted in revised form: 19 May 2006

Detection of some gastrointestinal parasites from four synanthropic flies in Ekpoma, Nigeria

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