Diversity of Flies and Molecular Detection in Blood Sucking Flies in Surra Endemic Area in Indonesia

Blood-sucking flies as mechanical vectors can transmit Trypanosoma evansi which causes surra disease. An increasing fly population can accelerate disease transmission and disrupt livestock feeding activities, thereby reducing
livestock body weight and milk production. Traditional methods of controlling flies include cleaning the cage, using smoke from a small fire, insecticides, and fly traps. This research aims to determine the diversity of flies that have the potential to act as surra vectors and to detect molecularly the presence/absence of T. evansi DNA in the feeding apparatus of flies. The results of research on the diversity of flies that have the potential to be surra vectors based on research location are blood-sucking flies such as Stomoxys calcitrans, Stomoxys sitiens, Stomoxys indica, Haematobia irritans, Tabanus rubidus, Tabanus megalops. Although, molecular detection by PCR with specific primer of 927 flies feeding apparatus in Brebes, Blora, Bantul, Kulon Progo, and Kongaloko Southwest Sumba did not reveal any T. evansi DNA. This is because the number of pathogen (T. evansi) may be no present or very low parasitemia in flies feeding apparatus and very low
population of flies. Flies were discovered to land more frequently on cattle body parts, particularly the head, neck, and abdomen. Haematobia irritans flies can serve as mechanical vectors for the transmission of ectoparasit egg, lice, and mite from one animal to another.