Can E. coli fly? The role of flies as transmitters of Escherichia coli to food in an urban slum in Bangladesh

TY - JOUR

T1 - Can E. coli fly?

T2 - The role of flies as transmitters of Escherichia coli to food in an urban slum in Bangladesh

AU - Lindeberg, Yrja Lisa

AU - Egedal, Karen

AU - Hossain, Zenat Zebin

AU - Phelps, Matthew

AU - Tulsiani, Suhella

AU - Farhana, Israt

AU - Begum, Anowara

AU - Jensen, Peter Kjær Mackie

N1 - This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the transmission of fecal bacteria by flies to food under natural settings.METHODS: Over a period of two months paired (exposed and non-exposed) containers with cooked rice were placed on the ground in kitchen areas in an urban slum area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the numbers of flies landing on the exposed rice were counted. Following exposure, the surface of the rice was microbiologically and molecularly analysed for the presence of E. coli and genes of diarrheagenic E. coli and Shigella strains.RESULTS: Rice was at greater risk (p <0·001) of being contaminated with E. coli if flies landed on the rice than if no flies landed on the rice (odds ratio 5·4 (p < 0·001, 95% CI: 2·5 to 11·7). Mean contamination in exposed rice samples (n=60) was 3·1 x 103 CFU/g (95% CI: 2·2 x 103 to 4·0 x 103). Furthermore, for approximately half of the observed fly-landings, the average CFU per fly-landing was > 0·6 x 103 CFU. Genes of diarrheagenic E. coli and Shigella species were detected in 39 of 60 (65%) of exposed rice samples. Two fly species were identified; the common housefly (Musca domestica) and the oriental latrine fly (Chrysomya megacephala).CONCLUSION: Flies may transmit large quantities of E. coli to food under field settings. The findings highlight the importance of implementing control measures to minimize exposure of food to flies to ensure food safety. Fly control measures should be considered for the prevention of diarrheal diseases caused by E. coli. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the transmission of fecal bacteria by flies to food under natural settings.METHODS: Over a period of two months paired (exposed and non-exposed) containers with cooked rice were placed on the ground in kitchen areas in an urban slum area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the numbers of flies landing on the exposed rice were counted. Following exposure, the surface of the rice was microbiologically and molecularly analysed for the presence of E. coli and genes of diarrheagenic E. coli and Shigella strains.RESULTS: Rice was at greater risk (p <0·001) of being contaminated with E. coli if flies landed on the rice than if no flies landed on the rice (odds ratio 5·4 (p < 0·001, 95% CI: 2·5 to 11·7). Mean contamination in exposed rice samples (n=60) was 3·1 x 103 CFU/g (95% CI: 2·2 x 103 to 4·0 x 103). Furthermore, for approximately half of the observed fly-landings, the average CFU per fly-landing was > 0·6 x 103 CFU. Genes of diarrheagenic E. coli and Shigella species were detected in 39 of 60 (65%) of exposed rice samples. Two fly species were identified; the common housefly (Musca domestica) and the oriental latrine fly (Chrysomya megacephala).CONCLUSION: Flies may transmit large quantities of E. coli to food under field settings. The findings highlight the importance of implementing control measures to minimize exposure of food to flies to ensure food safety. Fly control measures should be considered for the prevention of diarrheal diseases caused by E. coli. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1111/tmi.13003

DO - 10.1111/tmi.13003

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29121443

SN - 1360-2276

VL - 23

SP - 2

EP - 9

JO - Tropical Medicine & International Health

JF - Tropical Medicine & International Health

IS - 1

ER -