Coxiella burnetii in Wild-caught Filth Flies
2008
Coxiella burnetii in Wild-caught Filth Flies
Sample size: 363
publication
Evidence: low
Author Information
Author(s): Nelder Mark P., Lloyd John E., Loftis Amanda D., Reeves Will K.
Primary Institution: Clemson University
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in field-collected flies?
Conclusion
Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in a small number of wild-caught filth flies, suggesting they may act as mechanical vectors for the bacterium.
Supporting Evidence
- Five out of 363 flies tested positive for C. burnetii DNA.
- Positive flies included species that feed on animal and human blood.
- Flies were collected from farms, forests, ranches, and zoos.
Takeaway
Some flies can carry a germ that makes people and animals sick, and we found this germ in a few flies we caught in the wild.
Methodology
Flies were collected from various environments, DNA was extracted, and tested for C. burnetii using a TaqMan assay.
Limitations
The study only tested a limited number of fly species and locations.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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