Effects of habitat and sampling time on bacterial community composition and diversity in the gut of the female house fly, Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera:Muscidae)

Authors: NEUPANE, SARASWOTI - Kansas State University; Nayduch, Dana

Submitted to: Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2022
Publication Date: 5/22/2022
Citation: Neupane, S., Nayduch, D. 2022. Effects of habitat and sampling time on bacterial community composition and diversity in the gut of the female house fly, Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera:Muscidae). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12581.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12581

Interpretive Summary: Adult house flies feed and breed in a variety of microbe–rich habitats, where they acquire, harbor, and transmit human and animal pathogens. To better understand their role in harboring and disseminating bacteria, we used a molecular-genetic approach to characterize and classify the bacterial communities carried in the gut of female house flies collected from three different habitats in Kansas: agricultural (dairy farm), urban (business area dumpsters) and mixed (business located between residential and animal agriculture areas). The house flies’ habitat was more important than sampling time in influencing the types (species) of bacteria carried within flies (diversity), the number of species and their relative abundance. The most abundant bacteria in flies from each habitat also were highly prevalent in the house flies collected across all three habitats. These bacteria might represent a “core microbiome” that is attributable to the fly’s eating and breeding habits, which include associations with substrates and food sources such as decaying matter and/or animal waste. Thus, no matter where flies are collected, they share many types of bacteria in common because flies commonly feed on filth. Bacteria normally associated with animal guts and feces, including many potential pathogens, were highly abundant in flies collected from the agricultural site. Interestingly, some pathogenic bacterial species were highly abundant in flies from the mixed and urban habitats as well. Because house flies harbored diverse bacterial communities that included potential human and animal pathogens they are important players as reservoirs for disease agents and potentially bacteria transmission. Furthermore, since the types of bacteria carried within the flies was highly correlated with the environment within which they were found, they can be used for surveillance and early detection of emerging and existing bacterial threats to humans and livestock.

Technical Abstract: Adult house flies feed and breed in a variety of microbe–rich habitats and serve as vectors for human and animal pathogens. To better understand their role in harboring and disseminating bacteria, we characterized the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in the gut of female house flies collected from three different habitats in Kansas: agricultural (dairy farm), urban (business area dumpsters) and mixed (business located between residential and animal agriculture areas). Bacterial community composition and diversity were influenced more by the house flies’ habitat than by sampling time. The most abundant taxa were also highly prevalent in the house flies collected from all three habitats, potentially representing a “core microbiome” attributable to the fly’s trophic and reproductive associations with substrates and food sources comprised of decaying matter and/or animal waste. Bacterial taxa associated with vertebrate guts/feces and potential pathogens were highly abundant in agricultural fly microbial communities. Interestingly, taxa of potential pathogens were highly abundant in flies from the mixed and urban sites. House flies harbored diverse bacterial communities influenced by habitat in which they reside, including potential human and animal pathogens, further bolstering their role in dissemination of pathogens, and indicating their utility for pathogen surveillance.