Oestrus Ovis Infection in Cyprus.

Abstract

The term ‘screw worm’ is used to describe certain types of cutaneous myiasis that predominantly affect animals. They are conventionally divided into “new world” screw worms which are found from the Southern U.S. down to Argentina, including Cochliornyia horninivorax, and “old world” screw worms that are found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, including various Chrysornyu species. Their importance is largely veterinary, cattle, horses, goats, and sheep being mostly afTected.The organisms are obligatory parasites of living animal tissues and attack primarily the nasal and pharyngeal areas, although they may infest minor breaches in the skin.’ Morbidity and mortality may be significant; prior to 1958, it was estimated that the American livestock industry lost 120 million dollars annually as a direct result of C. horninivorux infection.’ Man is uncommonly affected by both new and old world forms, but severe damage may occur to soft tissues if the condition is untreated. Oestrus ovis is known as the sheep screw worm or sheep nasal botfly. It is found in the “old world,” mainly in the Middle East and Central Asia, although it is now reported wherever sheep are raised commercially. The usual hosts are sheep and goats, but occasionally man can be affected. A 29-year-old man was resident in the Republic of Cyprus as a member of the British Forces. One afternoon he drove to a local beach where he spent several hours sunbathing and swimming prior to returning to his base.That evening he reported to his local Medical Center with an irritation of his right eye. O n examination, he was found to have a severe conjunctivitis with marked associated 1acrimation.A small white foreign body was noted to be embedded in the cornea. It resisted attempts to wash it out. Finally the cornea was anesthetized, and the foreign body extracted.The patient’s