Article Information
Corresponding author : Cem Turaman MD

Article Type : Review Article

Volume : 2

Issue : 1

Received Date : 18 Feb ,2021


Accepted Date : 01 Mar ,2021

Published Date : 05 Mar ,2021


DOI : https://doi.org/10.38207/jcmphr20210010
Citation & Copyright
Citation: Turaman C, A different glance on flies in terms of public health or why we cannot give up on flies?. J Comm Med and Pub Health Rep 2(1): https://doi.org/10.38207/jcmphr20210010

Copyright: © © 2021 Cem Turaman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
  A Different Glance on Flies in Terms of Public Health or Why We Cannot Give Up on Flies?

Cem Turaman MD*, MSc.

Free-lance public health consultant. Public health specialist, Epidemiologist, Tropicalist, Entomologist, Cankaya Ankara, Turkey

*Corresponding Author: Cem Turaman, Free-lance public health consultant, Cankaya Ankara, Turkey

Abstract
Background
: The fly, as an abundant and widespread insect group, with its mouthparts developed during its evolution suitable to its nourishment, has long been an undesirable pest by humans because of its cosmopolite behavior and choice of nutriment.

Methods: A review of the literature on detriments and benefits of fly has been done through the internet, the “for” and “against” articles were compiled, categorized, and reviewed, and representative ones were selected as references.

Results: Today, at least in the scientific environments, the “pest approach” is in transformation, therefore we need to shift from observation to actively implement the role of the fly in keeping the environment clean. Controlled biowaste transformation, exploitation of the larval protein and fat, use of larva as livestock and human food, and production of a more environment friendly biodiesel can be a starting point of such implementations.

Conclusion: For the benefit of humans, we should switch our long run hostility against the fly into a confident and fruitful relationship.

Keywords: Fly, vector, biowaste, nutrient, biodiesel

Introduction
Insect, with its three-sectioned trunk (Greek: Insects, singular septum), three double pairs of articulated legs, and two pairs of wings, as a rule, is a master of survival which can adapt itself to a wide range of nutritional and ecological niches. Due to its tiny size, it has been able to spread all over the planet. Insects have been grouped under about 30 orders, though the relevant taxonomic arguments continue [1]. One of these orders, Diptera, is the group that includes flies. Diptera with approximately 90,000 identified species, is one of the largest insect groups on the Earth. Although the appearances of the flies drastically vary, they are characterized by a pair of front wings and a pair of atrophied hind wings, called the ‘haltere’ which are believed to stabilize the flight. The mouths of the flies vary but their compound eyes are a common feature. Flies can be found in almost all terrestrial habitats, even on the open seas, away from the land [2]. Most of the “Upper Diptera” which are defined as Brachycera that feeds on decomposing animals and vegetative substances, has sponging-sucking mouthparts. The larvae of these flies are called maggots. These saprophyte- scavenger maggots keep the environment clean by feeding on decomposing vegetative and animal substances. Some adult flies are predators or parasites of other insect species and some help the plants to pollinate [3, 4]. Thus, killing the flies will deprive us of having fruits and lead to excessive amounts of organic waste. Flies are holometabolous insects that go through a four-stage whole metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larvae go through a series of molting or ecdysis while growing. The stage between the two moltings is called “instar” [5]. Over 350 fly species in twenty- nine different families are connected to food-borne diseases and over 50 synanthropic fly species live in unhealthy environments [6]. Numerous species are considered pests for humans and livestock animals. Enormous investments are being done for the sake of human health and comfort concerning the control of house fly Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) [7]. Face fly, Musca autumnalis, horn fly, Haematobia irritans, and stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans are well known for their bites [2]. House flies play a significant role in transmitting many human diseases and is known as domestic pests [8]. Lesser house fly, Fannia canicularis and latrine fly, Fannia scalaris are known for disturbing the people around houses and farms [9].

Methods
A review of literature on detriments and benefits of fly have been done through the internet; the “for” and “against” articles, including the old and new ones to realize the impact of time was compiled, categorized, and reviewed, and only representative ones were selected as reference.

Results
The traditional points of view

The flies have a reputation as mechanic and biologic vectors which transmit disease agents [7]. The mechanic way, subject of this manuscript, consists of the transmission of the pathogen organism without sexual reproduction, through the contaminated mouth or setae (tick hair) and tarsi (distal feet segments). Pathogen organisms are taken by the outer parts of the trunk of a fly from garbage, drains, or other dirt resources and/or collected in the anterior gut then carried back to mouth segments through vomiting and can be transmitted to humans or animal foods. Some pathogens, when swallowed by the fly, may reside in the mouth or gut channel for days and can be contaminated when the fly vomits or defecates. In this type of transmission, the pathogen microorganism is not sexually reproduced or developed on/in the body of the fly. Several viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes are known for decades as examples of such pathogens [10]. These pathogens which can directly be transmitted to human food by house flies while they feed on fecal materials are Enteroviruses, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Chlamydia, and many other pathogen genus [4]. Even though these flies are mostly related to shigellosis epidemics [11] they might also be responsible for food poisonings, typhoid, cholera, tuberculosis, anthrax, ophthalmia, trachoma, and transmission of parasite worms [12]. Where sewage is carried on the ground, serious health risks might occur especially if there are food manufacturers, livestock farms, hospitals, or slaughterhouses around the area [13].

The other face of the fly
Alongside the disturbing feature of the flies as transmitters of disease, they also have an important “environment-friendly” role as consumers of human waste and animal carcass. The role of the fly as a forensic entomology agent has become important in recent years [3]. Maggot debridement therapy has become a widespread cure for chronic wounds [14]. Recent research has shown that fly maggots render the animal feces and garbage contaminated with harmful pathogens aseptic. Fly species whose larva consume and convert organic slaughterhouse, the marketplace, domestic, and livestock farm wastes also eliminate the bad smells coming from these organic wastes and clean microorganism contamination, rendering it a favourite animal and human food [15]. The larva of M. domestica fed on organic municipality waste have a rich protein concentration, causes weight gain as efficient as the standard poultry forage [16]. Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larva reduces the E. coli level in cow manure [17]. One problem which exists is the risk of heavy metal accumulation in the larva [18]. More than 40% of the H. illucens larva which transforms the waste through consummation is protein and 30% is fat. In this process, the manure weight reduces together with the nitrogen and phosphorus [19]. Moreover, this fly also prevents the reproduction of M. domestica in the manure [20]. Hermetia illucens is also efficient in processing waste stemming from fishery activities [21] and coffee production [22].

Biodiesel as a consumable and eco-friendly fuel oil is gaining importance throughout the world [23]. However, because its raw material is composed of oils which are extracted from waste food and cereals, its production is costly, a factor that limits its effective use [24]. Production of biodiesel out of oils coming from restaurant wastes is less costly, however the waste bi-produced with this method is difficult to destroy. H. illucens enables the waste disposal of the biodiesel produced from corn [25]. Using raw material other than food is the most efficient method of obtaining biodiesel [26]. H. illucens larva which feed on restaurant wastes can be useful in biodiesel production too. The solid waste remaining from the restaurant waste once the oil is extracted can be used as fly larva forage which might also increase the efficiency. The performance is reduplicated when Hermatia illucens larva is used for this purpose; biodiesel produced out of the restaurant waste and the biodiesel produced out of the larva fed out of biodiesel production waste [26]. The fat content of the house flies is also high. Its larva can be used as a biodiesel raw material when developed in pig manure. This also enables the transformation of pig manure and obtaining high-quality protein from the larva. The biodiesel produced out of house fly larva reared in pig manure contains the desired methyl ester profile and conforms to the ASTMD6751-10 standards [27]. Housefly larva is a cheap potential in biodiesel production [28].

Conclusions
Fly is an insect unfairly defined as a pest-vector by humans because it shares our food. With its cosmopolitan behaviours it acquired in thousands of years, the fly has developed a life cycle which vastly depends on the human environment, therefore, drew a reaction from humans. Scientific circles –especially after Louis Pasteur- were primarily preoccupied with proving the harmful aspects of flies on human health; however today it is accepted that it would be impossible to cope with organic waste piles created because of human activities, without the help of flies and more articles on the subject are being published. Preventive medicine professionals, even though they call themselves “public health professionals” probably because they have the “community medicine” identity in many countries, have also become one of the occupational groups which aspire to cope with flies. However today, the important role of the flies in the disposal of human and animal wastes thanks to their saprophyte/scavenger nutritional habits is widely accepted. Now is the time to actively begin to use this potential of the flies apart from just observing it. Making use of their biproducts such as protein, fat, and biodiesel, the produced biowaste can largely be managed. It would be for the benefit of the humans to establish a reliable and effective relationship with the flies through a “social contract” and leave aside the long-lasting hostility we have been bearing against them.

Key Points:

  • The fly has developed a life cycle which depends on human environment, is unfairly defined as a pest-vector.
  •  After the Pasteurian revolution, the scientific circles were primarily preoccupied with proving the harmful aspects of flies on human health.
  • Today it is accepted that it would be impossible to cope with organic waste piles without the help of the fly.
  • Making use of their biproducts such as protein, fat, and biodiesel, the produced biowaste can be better managed.

Conflict of Interest: No other conflict of interest.

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