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Research Project: Improved Surveillance and Control of Stable Flies, House Flies, and Other Filth Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Quantification of saliva production in Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and the impact of MdSGHV infection

Author
item HOLMES, ABIGAIL - University Of Massachusetts
item STOFFOLANO, JOHN - University Of Massachusetts
item Geden, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: Journal of Vector Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/18/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: House flies are pests of humans and their associated animals throughout the world. One of the natural enemies of the fly is a virus (MdSGHV) that infects the salivary glands and causes sterility in the adult fly. Flies infect other flies by depositing virus particles on food that is then visited by healthy flies. In this study, scientists at the University of Massachusetts and USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (Gainesville, FL) examined the effect of fly age, sex, and infection status on the amount of saliva produced by flies when they feed. Females produced more saliva than males, and younger flies produced more than older flies. Infection with SGHV results in greater amounts of saliva production, which enhances the ability of the virus to infect healthy flies. The research has implications for understanding other insect-transmitted viruses that rely on saliva for transmission such as Dengue and Zika.

Technical Abstract: Musca domestica salivary gland hypertrophy virus (MdSGHV) affects house flies by enlarging salivary glands, impeding ovary development in females, and mating behavior in both males and females. It is not known if this virus impacts the quantity of saliva produced by house flies. This study aimed to establish baseline saliva quantities in healthy M. domestica across sexes and ages and examine how MdSGHV infection influences saliva output in 5-day-old males. Results reveal that healthy female Musca domestica produce more saliva on average than males and that saliva production among both sexes decreases with age. A comparison of infected, PBS-injected, and healthy flies shows significantly higher saliva quantities in infected individuals, suggesting MdSGHV enhances saliva production to improve transmission. These findings provide insights into MdSGHV transmission dynamics, which may provide for a better understanding of how other vector-borne diseases like Zika and Dengue virus interact in the infected salivary glands of the host vector.