Abstract
Abstract:
Several insects that act as vectors, including houseflies (Musca domestica L.), are often considered to be an important
source of fungal contamination in human foods.Houseflies are also involved in the transmission of bacterial pathogens
that may pose a serious hazard to human health. Thus, the rural population of South Africa, as typified by that in
the Gauteng Province investigated in this study, is at high risk from fungal exposure disseminated by houseflies and
it is therefore important to assess the role of flies in contaminating various food commodities. Eighty four samples of
houseflies (captured fromhouseholds and pit toilets)were studied for their potential to carry fungal spores into food
commodities. The fungi occurring in samples of rawmaize (15) and porridge (19)were also assessed. Fungal isolates
were identified based on morphological characteristics by conventional identification methods. Fifteen genera of
fungi were isolated and identified, of which Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Moniliella and Mucor
were the most prevalent in all three sample types analysed. The incidence rates of fungal contamination per total
fungal count isolated in houseflies, maize and porridge were recorded with mean fungal load of 2 × 108 CFU/ml,
1 × 107 CFU/g and 2 × 107 CFU/g respectively. Additionally, A. flavus, A. parasiticus, F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum,
P. verrucosum, P. aurantiogriseum and M. suaveolens were the most frequent fungal isolates in houseflies with
incidence rate of 34%, 11%, 27%, 21%, 22%, 17% and 32% respectively. F. verticillioides, A. flavus, A. niger and P. oslonii
were the most prevalent species contaminating porridge and maize with incidence rate of 23%, 32%, 16% and 28%
in maize samples,while incidence rates of 59%, 15% and 29% were recorded in porridge samples with the exception
of F. verticillioides. The prevalence of these genera of fungi may pose serious health risks.