HYDERABAD: Flies are the carriers of the highest number of bacteria and a team of scientists have been able to evaluate the different species that carry bacteria and how they harm humans.
The study involved 116 houseflies and blowflies from three different continents whose legs, wings and bodies were studied to understand the concentration of bacteria on them. The study was published in Scientific Reports which gives an insight into transfer of bacteria to humans, plants and food.
The researchers found that microbial content of bacteria in an individual fly was largely on its legs and wings. The bacteria accumulated on their body are used by them to feed the offsprings.
The concentration of bacteria on the legs was high and as the fly moved over to the human body, plant or food, the bacteria are offloaded and proliferate. Dr Rashmi Singh, a senior pathologist, said, “In urban areas, we find the conditions conducive for the growth of flies. Due to this reason, the bacteria proliferation is easy. But in human bodies, the mechanism to fight back is quite strong. For public health systems, these studies are important as they give evidence on diseases and unhygienic conditions.”
