Isolation And Identification Of Microorganisms From The External Surface Of Housefly (Musca Domestica) In Umuahia Metropolis, Abia Sta Te

ABSTRACT

 Housefly, M. domestica has long been considered as disease vectors. This study was • focused on the isolation and identification of pathogenic microorganisms from the external surface of houseflies. The external surface of houseflies collected from five different sites (market, clinic, refuse dump, 'restaurant and broken sewage) in Umuahia metropolis were screened for microbial pathogens. The sample was prepared by placing the flies in sterile universal containers containing normal saline and shaken vigorously. Tbe isolates obtained from the samples inoculated on culture plates were identified and characterized by their morphology, microscopic appearance and biochemical reaction. The most frequent isolates were E. coli (22.29%), Klebsiella spp ( 16.56%), S. aureus (14.64%), Aspergillus spp (28.33%), Mucor spp (21.67%), E. histolytica (32.73%) and E. nana (30.91 %). Quantitative analysis of the total viable count and mean load of the isolates from all sites revealed higher values from the broken sewage and refuse compared to other sites. Bacterial isolates from flies obtained from the clinic exhibited greater percentage of resistant to commonly used antibiotics (gentamicin, streptomycin, septrin, peflacine, ofloxacin, ceporex, ceftriaxone and ampicillin. Thus, houseflies % can transmit microbial pathogens through their external surface particularly drug resistant ones although good and adequate sanitation is instrumental to the control of these flies