LIGHT AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THIRD-INSTAR LARVA OF LUCILIA SERICATA (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE) RECOVERED FROM A CASE OF HUMAN INTESTINAL MYIASIS

Maha Shaheen ,Amany I Hamza ,Salma M Abdel-Rahman

doi:10.21608/avmj.2005.177768

Abstract

The current work describes a case of intestinal myiasis, where the third-instar of unidentified larvae, recovered from a stool specimen of a child, were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphological features of these larvae were similar to larvae of family Calliphoridae. They were identified as Lucilia sericata. The present work added new features that could be helpful for species identification. These features included number and arrangement of papillae on the anterior spiracle, structure of spines, shape and arrangement of circumspiracular papillae at caudal segment and branching peculiarity of the posterior spiracular hairs. These new additions could benefit future identification of the Lucilia spp. larvae that exist in Egypt.

Highlights

Lucilia sericata flies belong to family Calliphoridae, which are ectoparasites found in corpse of animals, and cause myiasis in humans and domestic herbivorous animals (Granz et al, 1975; Mateos et al, 1990 and Morsy et al, 1991).Members of this genus are responsible for the condition known as "blowfly strike" of sheep in a number of countries
Myiasis caused by Lucilia sericata was reported in 1826 by Meigen who separated larvae for the first time from mouth, eyes, and paranasal sinuses of a hospital patient (Daniel et al, 1994)
Lucilia sericata is distributed allover the world and are the most known species to cause animal and human infestation. It was found in wounds and natural orifices of human body or animals the mouth, eyes and paranasal sinuses (Daniel et al, 1994)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Lucilia sericata flies belong to family Calliphoridae, which are ectoparasites found in corpse of animals, and cause myiasis in humans and domestic herbivorous animals (Granz et al, 1975; Mateos et al, 1990 and Morsy et al, 1991). Members of this genus are responsible for the condition known as "blowfly strike" of sheep in a number of countries.

Light microscopic examination

DISCUSSION