Parasites associated with synantrophic flies in selected locations within Kaduna Metropolis, northern Nigeria

Abstract

Flies are important transmitters of infectious agents and parasitic diseases of man and animals. Synanthrophic flies are so abundant in the tropics especially in areas with sub-standard environmental sanitary conditions. Flies were collected with a specially designed improvised trap of transparent plastic bucket about 10 cubic litres capacity with rotten pieces of meat used as bait inside the bucket within selected locations. A total of 848 flies were collected from six locations categorized according to socio-economic income status using a locally designed trap (Plate 1). Four species of flies namely: Chrysomyia albiceps, Chrysomyia chloropyga, Musca domestica and Musca sorbens were collected in the different locations. The highest fly abundance recorded 258(30.4%) while the least recorded was 177(21.0%). A total of 172 parasites were isolated using standard parasitological technique (floatation and sedimentation). The recorded parasites were cyst of entamoeba, hookworm ova, Ascaris lumbricoides ova, Strongyloides stercoralis, Hymenolepsis nana, Taenia spp. The most prevalent parasites were from the low income class (54.0%) followed by medium income class (28.4%) then the high income class (17.4%). The parasites isolated were from the external and internal body surface of the flies. The present study demonstrates the potential of synantrophic flies as vector of pathogenic parasites to humans. Therefore, unsanitary conditions which provide breeding sites for the flies should be discouraged through proper advocacy on proactive sanitary practices and personal hygiene.

Keywords: Infectious agents; sanitary practices; pathogenic parasites.