Isolation of fungi from housefly (Musca domestica L.) at Slaughter House and Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran.

OBJECTIVE Houseflies have long been regarded as potential carriers of microorganisms especially fungi. Since pathogenic microorganisms are widespread in the hospital environment, there is abundant opportunity for flies to become contaminated and in turn to contaminate the patient environment and residential regions. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify fungi from the slaughter house and the hospital environments. MATERIAL AND METHOD The flies were captured with a sterile nylon net and transferred to the Entomology Laboratory for identification by standard keys. The flies were captured and rinsed in a solution of 1% sodium hypochlorite for three minutes and twice in sterile distilled water for 1 min then flies was transferred to a 0.85% saline solution. 0.1 ml of this solution was transferred to Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA). Isolation of fungi was identified by standard mycological methods. RESULTS In this study totally 908 Musca domestica (418 flies from the hospital environments and 490 flies from the slaughter house) were collected in Sanandaj, Iran. The main fungi isolated were Aspergillus spp (66%). and another isolated were belong to Penecillium spp. (14%), Fusarium spp. (11.3%), Alternaria spp. (6%) and among the filamentous fungi, 8.6% of the isolates as Microsporum gypseum of dermatophytes was identified. CONCLUSION The present study supports belief that the house fly is a carrier for fungal spores. Therefore they have to be controlled and density of their population should be reduced undertaken different vector control approaches.