Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp.in House Flies in Jatinangor

Background: Diarrhea is a common problem in Indonesia and mostly caused by pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp., transmitted by house flies. The incidence of acute diarrhea has been rising over the years. The aim of this study is to determine if Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. can be found in house flies in Jatinangor. Methods: A descriptive study was done, involving 20 samples of house flies caught from houses and street vendors in Jatinangor during the period of March 2012 to January 2013. Bacteria were isolated from house flies and identified using various biochemical tests. Results: Shigella sp. was isolated from 5% of the house flies caught in Jatinangor. The house flies caught from the street vendors revealed a higher percentage of bacteria than those caught from houses. Conclusion: Only Shigella sp. can be isolated from house flies in Jatinangor. However, a small percentage of Shigella sp. was also found from the house flies captured around Jatinangor. [AMJ.2014;1(1):17–20