S. WanaratanaS. PanyimS. PakpinyoChulalongkorn UniversityMahidol University2018-05-032018-05-032011-03-01Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Vol.25, No.1 (2011), 58-63136529150269283X2-s2.0-79951529441https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/11349The objective of the present study was to determine the potential for house flies (Musca domestica L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) to harbour the avian influenza (AI) H5N1 virus. Laboratory-reared flies were experimentally fed with a mixture containing the AI virus. Exposed flies were washed with brain-heart infusion broth and followed by 70% alcohol before preparation of whole fly homogenate. The homogenate was inoculated into six 10-day-old embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). Allantoic fluids were collected to determine the virus using the haemagglutination (HA) test, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RRT-PCR). In the first experiment, ECEs that were inoculated with the 50 AI virus exposed fly homogenates died within 48 h and HA and RT-PCR were positive for AI virus. In the second experiment, ECEs that were inoculated with only one fly died with positive HA test and RT-PCR. In the last experiment, a group of exposed flies was collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h post-exposure. Fly homogenates of each time point were tested by virus titration in ECEs and RRT-PCR. Virus titres declined in relation to exposure time. Furthermore, RRT-PCR results were positive at any time point. The present study shows that the flies may harbour the AI virus and could act as a mechanical vector of the AI virus. © 2010 The Authors. Medical and Veterinary Entomology © 2010 The Royal Entomological Society.Mahidol UniversityAgricultural and Biological SciencesImmunology and MicrobiologyVeterinaryArticleSCOPUS10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00928.x