Flies are insects that can make life difficult, especially in summer. What’s worse, contact with them can affect our health. Scientists from the Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University have found that these insects can carry more bacteria than previously thought. For the first time it has been shown that flies can carry Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which are responsible for the development of gastric ulcers.
Experts examined the bacterial flora of 116 house flies and common pits collected on three continents. It turned out that insects carry hundreds of different bacteria, many of which are pathogenic for humans. The fly’s body is covered with hairs, thus the bacteria have excellent conditions for development. Most pathogens are found on the wings and legs of insects. The insect, covered with numerous hairs, provides microorganisms with exceptionally favorable conditions for spreading, and frequent presence among people makes them extremely easy to spread disease. “The legs and wings of flies carry the most bacteria, which indicates that the microbes actually use these insects for air transport,” says Stephan Schuster, co-author of the study.
Flies develop in conditions that are far from hygienic, and they often visit our homes and sit on the food we eat. The research described in Scientific Reports shows that roughly half of their bacterial flora is closely related to them, and half of them are microorganisms collected from their surroundings. Interestingly, more pathogenic bacteria were found in insects caught in cities than in rural cowsheds and stables. This supports the supposition that flies are more effective in spreading disease where there are more people.
The fly will cause ulcers
While the large presence of pathogens on the fly’s body was not surprising, the discovery of Helicobacter pylori bacteria did. Until now, it has not been taken into account that these insects may contribute to the spread of these microorganisms that increase the risk of gastric ulcers. – This is the first study that objectively describes the entire bacterial flora of these insects – says Prof. Ana Carolina Junqueira from the Federal University of Rio De Janeiro.
Researchers are convinced that the discovery will contribute to the development of a system of so-called early detection. The study of the bacterial flora of the fly can show what bacteriological threat we may face in a given area.