Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission

Flies play an important role in the transmission of antimicrobial−resistant (AMR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) foodborne pathogens in animal production systems, posing risks to food safety and public health. Synanthropic fly species, including house flies (Musca domestica), face flies (Musca autumn...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eshita Shahanaz, Kirsten M. Zwally, Cameron Powers, Brandon Lyons, Phillip Kaufman, Giridhar Athrey, Thomas M. Taylor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Food Protection
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X25000894
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849419993661308928
author Eshita Shahanaz
Kirsten M. Zwally
Cameron Powers
Brandon Lyons
Phillip Kaufman
Giridhar Athrey
Thomas M. Taylor
author_facet Eshita Shahanaz
Kirsten M. Zwally
Cameron Powers
Brandon Lyons
Phillip Kaufman
Giridhar Athrey
Thomas M. Taylor
author_sort Eshita Shahanaz
collection DOAJ
description Flies play an important role in the transmission of antimicrobial−resistant (AMR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) foodborne pathogens in animal production systems, posing risks to food safety and public health. Synanthropic fly species, including house flies (Musca domestica), face flies (Musca autumnalis), blow flies (Calliphoridae), and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), mechanically and/or biologically transmit bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella, and Campylobacter spp. Their frequent contact with manure, animal waste, and processing environments enables the transfer of AMR pathogens across food production systems. This review synthesizes recent research on the interactions between flies and foodborne pathogens, highlighting the role of fly physiology, behavior, and microbial associations in pathogen transport. Additionally, it introduces the influence of environmental factors on pathogen dissemination and evaluates current Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, including biological, chemical, and physical control methods, for mitigating fly-mediated pathogen transmission. Understanding these systems is essential for developing targeted interventions to reduce the burden of AMR pathogens in food production and enhance public health protection.
format Article
id doaj-art-2febf1be6ecd441089bec4e340a53f28
institution Kabale University
issn 0362-028X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Food Protection
spelling doaj-art-2febf1be6ecd441089bec4e340a53f282025-08-20T03:31:53ZengElsevierJournal of Food Protection0362-028X2025-06-0188710053710.1016/j.jfp.2025.100537Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance TransmissionEshita Shahanaz0Kirsten M. Zwally1Cameron Powers2Brandon Lyons3Phillip Kaufman4Giridhar Athrey5Thomas M. Taylor6Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Corresponding author at: Department of Animal Science, USA.Flies play an important role in the transmission of antimicrobial−resistant (AMR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) foodborne pathogens in animal production systems, posing risks to food safety and public health. Synanthropic fly species, including house flies (Musca domestica), face flies (Musca autumnalis), blow flies (Calliphoridae), and flesh flies (Sarcophagidae), mechanically and/or biologically transmit bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella, and Campylobacter spp. Their frequent contact with manure, animal waste, and processing environments enables the transfer of AMR pathogens across food production systems. This review synthesizes recent research on the interactions between flies and foodborne pathogens, highlighting the role of fly physiology, behavior, and microbial associations in pathogen transport. Additionally, it introduces the influence of environmental factors on pathogen dissemination and evaluates current Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, including biological, chemical, and physical control methods, for mitigating fly-mediated pathogen transmission. Understanding these systems is essential for developing targeted interventions to reduce the burden of AMR pathogens in food production and enhance public health protection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X25000894Antimicrobial resistanceHouse fliesLivestockPathogen vectorsPoultrySalmonella
spellingShingle Eshita Shahanaz
Kirsten M. Zwally
Cameron Powers
Brandon Lyons
Phillip Kaufman
Giridhar Athrey
Thomas M. Taylor
Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission
Journal of Food Protection
Antimicrobial resistance
House flies
Livestock
Pathogen vectors
Poultry
Salmonella
title Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission
title_full Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission
title_fullStr Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission
title_full_unstemmed Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission
title_short Flies as Vectors of Foodborne Pathogens Through Food Animal Production: Factors Affecting Pathogen and Antimicrobial Resistance Transmission
title_sort flies as vectors of foodborne pathogens through food animal production factors affecting pathogen and antimicrobial resistance transmission
topic Antimicrobial resistance
House flies
Livestock
Pathogen vectors
Poultry
Salmonella
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X25000894
work_keys_str_mv AT eshitashahanaz fliesasvectorsoffoodbornepathogensthroughfoodanimalproductionfactorsaffectingpathogenandantimicrobialresistancetransmission
AT kirstenmzwally fliesasvectorsoffoodbornepathogensthroughfoodanimalproductionfactorsaffectingpathogenandantimicrobialresistancetransmission
AT cameronpowers fliesasvectorsoffoodbornepathogensthroughfoodanimalproductionfactorsaffectingpathogenandantimicrobialresistancetransmission
AT brandonlyons fliesasvectorsoffoodbornepathogensthroughfoodanimalproductionfactorsaffectingpathogenandantimicrobialresistancetransmission
AT phillipkaufman fliesasvectorsoffoodbornepathogensthroughfoodanimalproductionfactorsaffectingpathogenandantimicrobialresistancetransmission
AT giridharathrey fliesasvectorsoffoodbornepathogensthroughfoodanimalproductionfactorsaffectingpathogenandantimicrobialresistancetransmission
AT thomasmtaylor fliesasvectorsoffoodbornepathogensthroughfoodanimalproductionfactorsaffectingpathogenandantimicrobialresistancetransmission