Transmission of Moraxella bovis in the Laboratory by the Face Fly (Diptera: Muscidae)12

Abstract
The ability of Musca autumnalis De Geer to transmit the bacterium Moraxella bovis (Hauduroy) under laboratory conditions was quantitatively determined. Face flies were exposed to M. bovis by using four types of culture preparations and were able to transmit M. bovis to blood agar plates for up to 6 h in quantities greater than 1 colony-forming unit per 10 min of fly exposure per plate. Face flies exposed to M. bovis on 24-h blood agar plate cultures of M. bovis transmitted significantly more colonies (P < 0.02) than those exposed to broth suspensions of M. bovis.