Cutaneous and pulmonal habronemosis transmitted by Musca domestica in a stable in the United Arab Emirates.

The research article discusses the findings of an investigation into nematode larvae (Habronematidae) infection in horses at a farm in the United Arab Emirates, which were transmitted by the housefly, Musca domestica. The prevalence and intensity of the infection among the fly population in the stable were determined through DNA testing.

Study Location and Subjects

• The study was conducted at a farm in Al Dhaid, United Arab Emirates.
• The subjects of study were horses and houseflies present in the farm.

Larvae Discovered in Horses

• Upon examining lung tissue from a horse, nematode larvae from the Habronematidae family were discovered.
• Of the 18 other horses present in the farm, summer sores (indicative of cutaneous habronemosis) were identified in two stallions.

Infection in Houseflies

• The researchers captured flies at the farm in November and December 2008, and found that the male houseflies (Musca domestica) had a higher infection rate (26.2%) as compared to females (8.7%).
• However, all 15 Stomoxys calcitrans (stable fly) specimens caught at the same location tested negative for nematode larvae.
• The houseflies caught inside the barn had a higher prevalence rate (20.9%) as opposed to the flies trapped outside the building (1.1%).
• The intensity of the infection varied, with each infected fly carrying between one and 29 larvae.

Identification of Larvae Species

• The larvae extracted from the dissected flies were subjected to a DNA-targeting semi-nested PCR protocol, which helped differentiate among three nematode species: Habronema muscae, Habronema microstoma, and Draschia megastoma.
• The larvae were then confirmed to belong to the species Habronema muscae.