Abstract
<p>Epidemiology of traumatic myiasis in Indonesia was studied by the widespread collection of fly larvae from infested livestock in passive case detection surveys involving veterinary clinics. In addition, monthly data from Kediri regency in Eastern Java were analysed from 2006-2009 to explore the seasonality of myiasis. Larvae from a total of 260 cases from the nationwide survey and 341 cases from Kediri were identified. Except for 5 cases of chicken infestation due to Musca species in the nationwide survey, all other cases were exclusively caused by the Old World screwworm (OWS) fly, Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The monthly numbers of cases at Kediri were very variable, with cases in all months, but there was statistical evidence for an increase in cases in January and December, during the rainy season. The greatest numbers of infestations recorded were from cattle and goats. The most frequently infested sites nationwide and in Kediri were the vulva and umbilicus, associated with calving, which is a major risk period for traumatic myiasis. Mitochondrial DNA typing of 176 specimens was useful for detecting multiple infestations, but no association was found between genetic lineage and host. The equatorial climate of Indonesia, combined with poor husbandry systems are factors that help to support OWS fly development year round. Even if not considered a disease of strategic importance, screwworm myiasis remains a threat to livestock production in Indonesia and a major welfare issue that requires constant interventions by farmers. The new and collated epidemiological data presented represent the most extensive survey of traumatic myiasis in Indonesia to date and provide a valuable baseline to support integrated pest management programs.</p>
Highlights
The larvae of the Old World screwworm (OWS) fly, Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera: Calliphoridae), cause traumatic myiasis and remain a major problem in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia (Hall et al 2016)
Pre-2002 cases were discussed by Wardhana et al (2014), and again the OWS fly predominated from the first time this species was definitively recorded (Kraneveld & Pettinga 1949)
Geographical distributions of myiasis caused by fly species and their genetic lineages The OWS fly was the primary cause of traumatic myiasis of livestock in Indonesia, and no larvae of the facultative parasite Chrysomya megacephala, the sister species, were found in any of the wounds, despite this species being widespread in the country (Wardhana et al 2012)
Summary
The larvae of the Old World screwworm (OWS) fly, Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera: Calliphoridae), cause traumatic myiasis and remain a major problem in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia (Hall et al 2016). Since the first report in 1926, in Minahasa, North Sulawesi (Kraneveld & Schaaf 1937), myiasis has continued to be a livestock problem in Indonesia, and since 1948 the fly causing most infestations has been identified as the OWS fly (Wardhana et al 2014) This disease is not considered to be of strategic national importance and livestock owners rather than veterinarians apply treatments that are highly diverse in manner and outcome. Because effective insecticides, such as Dichlorfenthion (Gusanex®) favoured by veterinarians, are expensive and difficult to find in the markets, less affluent rural farmers depend instead on herbal medicines to kill the larvae in the wound, such as liquid of tobacco extract and others (Sukarsih et al 1989; Wardhana & Diana 2014; Mustika et al 2016; Wientarsih et al 2017) They traditionally used kerosene, battery carbon with motor oil, gasoline and petrol to treat myiasis (Sukarsih et al 1989). In East Sumba, many farmers used insecticides developed for control of plant pests such as Isoprocarb 50% WP (MIPCIN 50 WP®), which is potentially dangerous for livestock and can cause poisoning, even death (Wardhana 2006)
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