Abstract
Myiasis-causing larvae were extracted from dogs attending veterinary clinics in Plateau State, Nigeria and subjected to molecular analysis involving polymerase chain reaction amplification of the 28S rRNA gene of blowflies, cloning and sequencing techniques. All larvae were confirmed as Cordylobia anthropophaga Blanchard (Diptera: Calliphoridae) after the initial morphological identification. This is the first molecular identification of any myiasis-causing fly species in Nigeria and may serve as a reliable alternative to morphological identification where samples are not well preserved or difficult to identify to species level.
Highlights
The infestation of vertebrate animals with larvae of dipteran flies is refered to as myiasis
Canine myiasis is mostly due to C. anthropophaga because dogs, humans and small rodents serve as reservoir hosts for the larvae (McGraw & Turiansky 2008)
This study reports on the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning and sequencing of the 28S rRNA gene of blowflies as an aid in the identification of C. anthropophaga larvae from dogs in Nigeria
Summary
The infestation of vertebrate animals with larvae of dipteran flies is refered to as myiasis. Skin injuries on animals or the presence of excretory products (urine and/or faeces) in dry sand or clothing serve as an attractant to the flies. The flies subsequently lay their eggs in wounds or sleeping places of the animals, especially on straws, sand and sometimes on urine-smelling clothing (Ockenhouse et al 1990). Hatching of eggs and the eventual penetration of larvae into the skin occurs through contact with the larvae from the environment or clothing; subsequently, the larva feeds and thrives on dead or living tissues and body fluid. Canine myiasis is mostly due to C. anthropophaga because dogs, humans and small rodents serve as reservoir hosts for the larvae (McGraw & Turiansky 2008)
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