Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

en Filth Flies As Carriers of Intestinal Parasites And Fungi in a Tertiary Institution in Ghana Infectious diseases and public health Infectious diseases and public health Original article Original article <a name="_Hlk33431793">Introduction</a>: Filth flies can mechanically transmit pathogens, some of which can cause significant diseases in humans and animals. Methods: This study aimed at isolating and identifying pathogenic fungi and intestinal parasites from flies sampled with sweep nets and fly traps from different dumpsites in a tertiary institution. Dumpsites at the various halls of residence were designated A, B, C, and D. Results: Pathogens were mostly isolated from the body surfaces of the flies. The 605 captured filth flies belonged to the two families, Calliphoridae (77.69%) and Muscidae (22.31%). Three genera of fungi were identified, with Aspergillus (91.69%) as the most predominant, followed by Penicillium (5.23%) and Rhizopus (3.08%). The intestinal parasites identified from only the external body surfaces of the sampled flies were protozoans, Cryptosporidium parvum (95%), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (0.83%), as well as helminths including Ascaris lumbricoides (3.34%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (0.83%). The percentage occurrence of fungi (57.54%) and intestinal parasites (85.83%) isolated from flies caught at dumpsites D and B were higher than those isolated from flies caught in any of the other study sites. Conclusion: This study confirms filthy flies as mechanical transmitters of pathogens and emphasizes adopting control measures to prevent the possible spread of infections within the university community.   Filth flies, Aspergillus, Cryptosporidium, Ascaris 179 185 http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-418-7&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Seth Offei Addo sethaddo40@gmail.com 0000-0003-4470-4504 Yes Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana Jennifer Oppong ohenjah2010@gmail.com 0000-0002-4765-2263 No Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Elisha Monikey Achawe elishamoni32@gmail.com 0000-0003-2089-055X No Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Barbara Baah Nketia bbaah799@gmail.com 0000-0001-5139-1409 No Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Prince Boateng Agyei sokodeboateng18@gmail.com 0000-0003-3331-2871 No Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana John Asiedu Larbi 0000-0003-2396-0269 No Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana