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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300369
Title: Experimental inoculation of house flies Musca domestica with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis serovar equi

Author
item BARBA, MARTA - Auburn University
item STEWART, ALLISON - Auburn University
item PASSLER, THOMAS - Auburn University
item HATHCOCK, TERRI - Auburn University
item WOOLDRIDGE, ANNE - Auburn University
item VAN SANTEN, E - Auburn University
item CHAMORRO, MANUEL - Auburn University
item CATTLEY, RUSSELL - Auburn University
item Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry
item HU, XING PING - Auburn University

Submitted to: Bulletin of Insectology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2015
Publication Date: 6/1/2015
Citation: Barba, M., Stewart, A.J., Passler, T., Hathcock, T., Wooldridge, A.A., Van Santen, E., Chamorro, M.F., Cattley, R.C., Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Hu, X. 2015. Experimental inoculation of house flies Musca domestica with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis serovar equi. Bulletin of Insectology. 68(1):39-44.

Interpretive Summary: Studies were designed to determine if house flies could become contaminated with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Actinomycetales: Corynebacteriaceae) which causes pigeon fever in horses. The infection mechanism is unknown, but fly transmission is suspected. The optimal medium for house fly inoculation is an overnight culture on blood agar of C. pseudotuberculosis biovar equi. House flies were contaminated in 10 minutes. C. pseudotuberculosis was recovered from flies for 24 hours following a 30-min exposure. These findings indicate that the house fly may be a C. pseudotuberculosis vector and aid in establishing a protocol for an experimental model to demonstrate the role of house flies as mechanical vectors of C. pseudotuberculosis infection.

Technical Abstract: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Actinomycetales: Corynebacteriaceae) infection in horses causes external abscesses, infection of internal organs and ulcerative lymphangitis. The exact mechanism of infection remains unknown, but fly transmission is suspected. Scientists at Auburn University and USDA, Gainesville, FL, determined the optimal medium for inoculation of house flies (Musca domestica L.) with C. pseudotuberculosis biovar equi. House flies exposed to blood agar preparations supplemented with dextrose could become contaminated within 10 minutes. C. pseudotuberculosis was recovered from flies for up to 24 hours following a 30-min exposure to contaminated blood agar. These findings indicate that the house fly may be a vector of C. pseudotuberculosis and aid in establishing a protocol for an experimental model to demonstrate the role of house flies as mechanical vectors of C. pseudotuberculosis infection.