Question

How do house fly carry disease causing microbes (or pathogens)?

Answer 1

The housefly carry disease carrying pathogens which are serious and even life-threatening for animals as well as humans. The diseases like enteric infections such as typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, eye infections etc can be transmitted through housefly.

Complete answer:
The housefly transmits the pathogens like Salmonella bacteria. Several bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi are carried and transmitted through housefly. The breeding rate of houseflies is very fast thus it is an important and dangerous disease carrier.

The housefly feeds on the rotten and decaying matter which can be human and animal wastes. The housefly does not serve as the secondary host but mechanically transmit several disease-causing agents. The housefly transmits the disease directly through their body. They lay eggs on the garbage and wastes. The pathogens get attached to the legs, mouth or the fine hairs in their body. The pathogens are thus transmitted to the surface they touch including the food. The housefly also accumulates the disease-causing germs within their digestive system. The microbes that cling on the surface of the housefly can survive several hours but the ones that are accumulated in the oesophagus live for several days.

The housefly also acts as a pest and can destroy crops. The housefly is beneficially used for waste management as they feed on dead and decaying organic matter.

Note: The control of housefly is very much important to prevent the spread of diseases. They can be controlled by-
1)Use of insecticides.
2)By using screens or mesh at the door or covering the food.
3)Fly killing devices or fly stick paper is used to control housefly.
4)Biological agents like Black soldier fly, dung beetles which feed on houseflies and destroy the larvae are extensively used to control houseflies.