The effect of bacterially‐dense environments on the development and immune defences of the blowfly<i>Lucilia sericata</i>

Barnes, Kate M.; Gennard, Dorothy

doi:10.1111/j.1365-3032.2010.00759.x

Cited by 41 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In the house fly ( Musca domestica ), which has also been used in larval therapy [18], certain bacteria are associated with reduced growth and high mortality rates, while others promote larval development [19, 20]. In the blow fly L. sericata , which is typically used for wound debridement, available data about effects of bacteria on larval growth and survival are limited to a single bioassay with Staphylococcus aureus which did not find any effect of the bacterium on larval development [21]. However, it has been reported that certain bacteria affect immune responses of the maggots [22], so the potential effect of microorganisms on larval survival and development should not be neglected.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and Survival of BaggedLucilia sericataMaggots in Wounds of Patients Undergoing Maggot Debridement Therapy

Čičková

Cambal

Kozánek

et al. 2013

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is an established method of debridement of nonhealing wounds. Despite intense clinical research about its efficacy and effects of substances produced by the larvae, growth and development of maggots in the wounds remain largely unexplored. In the present study, the bags with larvae (n = 52), which had been used to debride traumatic, ischemic, diabetic and venous ulcers, were collected and examined. Survival, length, width and larval instar of the maggots within each bag were recorded and analyzed with respect to the wound type and duration of the treatment. Survival of maggots after a 48-h cycle of MDT ranged between 63.6 and 82.7%. Maggots in venous ulcers had on average 9–19% higher mortality than maggots within traumatic, ischemic, and diabetic ulcers. Length of larvae after 48 h cycle of MDT reached on average 7.09–9.68 mm, and average width varied between 1.77 and 2.26 mm. Larvae in venous ulcers were significantly smaller after 48 h, but not after 72 h treatment compared to the other wound types. Further studies should be aimed to identify other patient-associated factors which might influence growth and survival of the larvae during maggot debridement therapy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and Survival of BaggedLucilia sericataMaggots in Wounds of Patients Undergoing Maggot Debridement Therapy

Čičková

Cambal

Kozánek

et al. 2013

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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“…aureus or reared in a sterile environment [26]. However, in terms of development rate, further work will need to be done to see if this species remains robust to a wider range of bacteria.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research to date demonstrates that, whilst ingesting the common skin bacterium S. aureus has no effect on pupation times, pupal size or survival rate of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) [26], certain bacterial strains have been shown to have a negative impact on blow fly larval development. For example, Ahmad et al [27] isolated four gut mutualistic bacteria (Providencia sp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, Enterococcus faecalis, and Ochrobactrum sp.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial effects on the development of forensically important blow fly species

Crooks

Bulling

Barnes

2016

Forensic Science International

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Colonisation times and development rates of specific blow fly species are used to estimate the minimum Post Mortem Interval (mPMI). The presence or absence of bacteria on a corpse can potentially affect the development and survival of blow fly larvae. Therefore an understanding of microbial-insect interactions is important for improving the interpretation of mPMI estimations. In this study, the effect of two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) on the growth rate and survival of three forensically important blow fly species (Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vicina and Calliphora vomitoria) was investigated.Sterile larvae were raised in a controlled environment (16:8h day: night light cycle, 23:21˚C day: night temperature cycle and a constant 35% relative humidity) on four artificial diets prepared with 100µl of 10 5 CFU bacterial solutions as follows: 1) E. coli 2) S. aureus 3) a 50:50 E. coli: S. aureus mix and 4) a sterile bacteria-free control diet. Daily measurements (length, width and weight) were taken from first instar larvae through to the emergence of adult flies. Survival rates were also determined at pupation and adult emergence. Results indicate that bacteria were not essential for the development of any of the blow fly species.However, larval growth rates were affected by bacterial diet, with effects differing between blow fly species. Peak larval weights also varied according to species-diet combination; C.vomitoria had the largest weight on E. coli and mixed diets, C. vicina had the largest weight on S. aureus diets, and treatment had no significant effect on the peak larval weight of L.sericata. These results indicate the potential for the bacteria that larvae are exposed to during development on a corpse to alter both developmental rates and larval weight in some blow fly species.

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“…Both Staphylococcus aureus (a relatively ubiquitous gram-positive organism common to humansÕ skin and nasopharynx) and E. coli have been shown to be eaten and killed by L. sericata as well as by some nonnecrophagous ßies (Mumcuoglu et al 2001, Erickson et al 2004, Barnes and Gennard 2011. Although S. aureus can be found on decaying tissues and, therefore, may be consumed by larvae, its presence is not necessary for proper development, and high concentrations of the organism do not seem to inhibit larval development or survival.…”

Section: The Roles Of Microorganisms and Microbial Products In The Sumentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial Interactions with Necrophagous Flies

Thompson

Brogan

Scheifele

et al. 2013

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

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Animal remains represent ephemeral resources that provide nutrients to a wide range of organisms. On death, vertebrate carrion is immediately colonized with a variety of microorganisms (typically obligate or facultatively anaerobic bacteria from the air, from insects, or from the corpse itself), which produce odors through the breakdown of tissues, the alteration of volatile chemicals present in the environment, or both. Within minutes, certain necrophagous flies are attracted by these chemical signals, resulting in waves of oviposition and larviposition activity. Although there are certainly detrimental (pathogenic) bacteria in the milieu, there is significant evidence suggesting that the presence of bacteria in or on the corpse seems to aid in larval development and pupariation. This may be because of a change in larval nutrition, with the bacteria either being used as a food source themselves or making nutrients more available to larvae. Maggots also produce and secrete or excrete antimicrobial molecules that are effective in killing certain bacteria. It is unclear whether this is a defensive mechanism, a selective measure to enhance the survival of bacteria beneficial to the larva, or a combination of both. Significant research is still needed to fully appreciate the potential role that these bacteria—insect interactions have in conferring a competitive advantage for surviving in a carrion community.

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The effect of bacterially‐dense environments on the development and immune defences of the blowflyLucilia sericata

Cited by 41 publications

References 38 publications

Growth and Survival of BaggedLucilia sericataMaggots in Wounds of Patients Undergoing Maggot Debridement Therapy

Growth and Survival of BaggedLucilia sericataMaggots in Wounds of Patients Undergoing Maggot Debridement Therapy

Microbial effects on the development of forensically important blow fly species

Bacterial Interactions with Necrophagous Flies

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