OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Staphylococcus aureus can colonize in horn flies and whether colonization is sufficiently persistent for transmission of the organism to cows by flies. ANIMALS: 2 Jersey heifers exposed to infected horn flies. PROCEDURE: Staphylococcus aureus was allowed to colonize in horn flies, and duration of colonization was determined. Flies with colonized S aureus were allowed to feed on teats of uninfected heifers to determine whether intramammary infection could be transmitted from fly to heifer. Scab material from naturally infected heifers was submitted for bacteriologic culture to determine whether S aureus was present and whether scabs could serve as a possible source of S aureus for flies. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus colonized in horn flies and remained for up to 96 hours after exposure. Exposure of teats of uninfected heifers to horn flies colonized with S aureus resulted in intramammary infection in 3 of 4 exposed teats. Culture of scab material from teats of naturally infected heifers revealed high concentration of S aureus (> 107 colony-forming units/mg), and flies without previously colonized S aureus were allowed to feed on scabs; S aureus colonized in them just as readily as it did in flies that had fed on experimentally infected blood. CONCLUSIONS: Horn flies are capable of transmitting S aureus-induced intramammary infection to heifers, and scabs on teats are a potential source of S aureus. Fly control on dairy cows in herds with known S aureus problems is recommended as a method to help prevent these infections.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Staphylococcus aureus can colonize in horn flies and whether colonization is sufficiently persistent for transmission of the organism to cows by flies. ANIMALS: 2 Jersey heifers exposed to infected horn flies. PROCEDURE: Staphylococcus aureus was allowed to colonize in horn flies, and duration of colonization was determined. Flies with colonized S aureus were allowed to feed on teats of uninfected heifers to determine whether intramammary infection could be transmitted from fly to heifer. Scab material from naturally infected heifers was submitted for bacteriologic culture to determine whether S aureus was present and whether scabs could serve as a possible source of S aureus for flies. RESULTS:Staphylococcus aureus colonized in horn flies and remained for up to 96 hours after exposure. Exposure of teats of uninfected heifers to horn flies colonized with S aureus resulted in intramammary infection in 3 of 4 exposed teats. Culture of scab material from teats of naturally infected heifers revealed high concentration of S aureus (> 107 colony-forming units/mg), and flies without previously colonized S aureus were allowed to feed on scabs; S aureus colonized in them just as readily as it did in flies that had fed on experimentally infected blood. CONCLUSIONS: Horn flies are capable of transmitting S aureus-induced intramammary infection to heifers, and scabs on teats are a potential source of S aureus. Fly control on dairy cows in herds with known S aureus problems is recommended as a method to help prevent these infections.
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Authors: Azhahianambi Palavesam; Felix D Guerrero; Andrew M Heekin; Ju Wang; Scot E Dowd; Yan Sun; Lane D Foil; Adalberto A Pérez de León Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-09-24 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Mary S Cupp; Eddie W Cupp; Christine Navarre; Dunhua Zhang; Xin Yue; Latora Todd; Victor Panangala Journal: J Med Entomol Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 2.278
Authors: Muhammad Noman Naseem; Conny Turni; Rosalind Gilbert; Ali Raza; Rachel Allavena; Michael McGowan; Constantin Constantinoiu; Chian Teng Ong; Ala E Tabor; Peter James Journal: Microbiol Spectr Date: 2022-07-11