Musca spp. (1)

Question 1

What are the common names?

Answer 1

Musca autumnalis - Face Fly

Musca domestica - House Fly

Question 2

What are the hosts?

Answer 2

Any animals

Humans

Question 3

Describe adults

Answer 3

5.5-7.5 mm

Light to dark gray

4 distinct longitudinal shapes on thorax

Grayish abdomen - various light/dark markings

Mouthparts adapted for sponging

Fleshy, retractable proboscis terminates in a pair of corrugated spongy organ - labella

Sticky hairs on pad like structures at the end of legs

Question 4

Describe eggs

Answer 4

Creamy white

1 mm

Banana shaped

Question 5

Explain life cycle

Answer 5

Female flies lay eggs in animal manure, any kind of decaying organic matter

3 larval stages (instars)

Pupa develops

Adult develops

Length of life cycle: 7 days - several months

Question 6

What are the sites of infection?

Answer 6

M. autumnalis - around eyes and muzzle of livestock

M. domestica - anywhere on animals

Question 7

Describe the Pathogenesis

Answer 7

Transmit:

 - Bacteria
 - Protozoan cysts
 - Helminth eggs
 - Other diseases

M. autumnalis
- Crawl about face: Feed on ocular/nasal discharge
- Extremely annoying
- Mechanical vectors of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation
of cornea and conjunctiva)
- Biological vectors for spirurid nematodes
- Reluctant to enter buildings

M. domestica
- Feeds on feces, milk, syrup, decaying fruit and other dissolved and
soluble materials
- Also secretions of eyes, nostrils, and mouth, on blood that
oozes from presence of tabanid flies
- Biological vector for D. megastoma and Habronema spp.
- Happily enter buildings

Question 8

What are the clinical signs?

Answer 8

Annoyance can interfere with grazing

- Results in drop in performance

Question 9

How do you diagnose?

Answer 9

Fly identification

Question 10

How do you treat?

Answer 10

Insecticides

 - Organophosphates 
 - Botanicals
 - Pyrethroids

Question 11

How do you prevent?

Answer 11

Control Flies
     - Regular application of insecticides to animals and fly breeding 
        sites
     - Aerosol space sprays
     - Residual insecticides
     - Solid or liquid fly baits 
     - Ear tags 
     - Sanitation
     - Reducing breeding places
     - Screens reduce nuisance

DO NOT treat compost

Question 12

What is important about Musca spp.?

Answer 12

It is ZOONOTIC