title: The survival of ingested Serratia marcescens in houseflies (Musca domestica L.) after electrocution with electric fly killers.
abstract: Electric fly killers (EFKs) are commonly used to control flying insects that enter food establishments. For establishment of the incidence of pathogen-bearing insects in food establishments, insect samples obtained from EFK trays could be used. The principal difficulty with this approach is that the survival time of microorganisms on or within insect corpses after electrocution is unknown. This study determined the survival of Serratia marcescens (as a representative of the enteric bacteria) within houseflies following their electrocution by a commercial EFK. S. marcescens was successfully ingested by houseflies and survived on and within the corpses after electrocution for up to 5 weeks. Maximal levels of bacteria were recovered 24 h postelectrocution. The study also demonstrates the ability of ingested S. marcescens to out-compete resident microbial flora within houseflies. The findings are intended to pave the way for further research to determine the incidence of pathogen-laden flying insects in food establishments.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health, Warwick District Council, Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa CV32 5QF, UK. ecooke@warwickdc.gov.uk
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: Gael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Moray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004199:Disease Vectors; D019649:Food Industry; D006793:Houseflies / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000254:growth & development*