A SALIVA VIRUS FOR HOUSE FLIES

House flies can transmit hundreds of pathogens like Salmonella, Escherichia coli, anthrax and tuberculosis among many others. Usually, the course of treatment involves finding the source of the flies, mainly areas where fly larvae can feed.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have found a potentially new method of treatment by utilizing a virus that stops flies from reproducing. The Salivary Gland Hypertrophy Virus (SGHV) is a member of new discovered family of viruses called Hytrosaviridae. The virus reproduces in the salivary gland of the infected insect, preventing the females from laying eggs and preventing males from mating.

Using two different strains, a Danish strain and a Florida strain, they studied the effectiveness of several infection methods. They mixed each strain in water then dipped healthy flies directly into the water. 56 percent were infected with the Danish strain while 50 percent were infected with the Florida strain. Liquid baits produced an infection rate of 22 percent with the Danish and 26 percent with the Florida. When flies were sprayed directly, the Danish strain infected 18 percent while the Florida strain infected 22 percent.

While the virus shows potential house and other filth flies, it is not a stand-alone treatment, but it could be highly useful included in an integrated pest management program for controlling fly populations early in their peak season.

HOSPITALS CONTEND WITH BEDBUGS

According to a survey released by the National Pest Management Association, more than one third of pest-management companies have treated bedbug infestations in hospitals in 2012 which is up from previous years. They have even been found in ambulances.

While bedbugs have never been proven to transmit diseases, they can leave patients susceptible to secondary infections due to victims scratching itchy bites. This can be especially problematic in hospitals where there is a greater likelihood of catching the contagious staph infection known as MRSA. Many hospitals are trying to be vigilant because the increased infections can lead to longer hospitals stays, readmissions, and reduced federal funding under the Affordable Care Act.

But even with strict cleanliness and sterilization protocols, bedbugs still hitchhike on patients and visitors going into the emergency room and waiting areas. This includes the high instance of bedbugs in nursing homes because often times elderly patients are transferred from an elderly care facility to a hospital, carrying bedbugs with them, and many times they do not show the same symptoms that other patients do.

Dr. Dick Zoutman, a professor and infectious disease specialist at Queen's University in Ontario has helped develop a new hospital sterilization system that can kill both highly drug-resistant bacteria and bedbugs. San Francisco based Medizone International has marketed the technology as AsepticSure. According to the company, AsepticSure uses a gas to effectively eradicate 100 percent of bacteria in less than an hour. It also killed bedbugs in 24 hours and their eggs within 36 hours. Zoutman is working to adapt the system to kill bedbugs quicker and more effectively. This system has only recently been distributed to hospitals in Canada, and Medizone is seeking approval to market in the United States.