Myiasis Research Articles

Cutaneous myiasis in a Serbian traveller returning from Kenya.

Flystrike (cutaneous myiasis) is caused by blowfly larvae of the genus Lucilia. This disease is a major obstacle to sustainable global sheep and wool production. Flystrike control relies primarily on breech modification surgery (mulesing) and insecticidal treatment; however, control is constantly compromised by the emergence and spread of insecticide-resistance. Preventing the spread of resistance is severely hindered by a limited understanding of genetic variation, structure and gene flow within and among Lucilia populations. Australia is one of the world's largest producers of sheep and wool products, where Lucilia cuprina dorsalis is the major cause of flystrike. Here, we collected 2,034 Lucilia cuprina dorsalis individuals among 86 populations from sheep-grazing regions across the continent. Each fly was genetically characterised at 20,000 loci using DArTseq, a reduced complexity genome sequencing strategy. Three genetically distinct population clusters (i.e., Western Australia, Eastern Australia and Tasmania) were revealed through population structure analyses. This investigation into population structure and gene flow yields significant insights into the genetic composition of diverse L. c. dorsalis populations throughout Australia. These findings will be essential for the sustainable management of flystrike on a global scale and for addressing the ongoing challenge of insecticide resistance.

Cutaneous myiasis is an infestation of the skin by fly larvae (diptera), which invade living or necrotic tissue. This condition occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical climates and most commonly affects people with immunosuppression. Therefore, our objective is for the reader to be able to recognize the clinical presentation of myiasis in a patient with immunosuppression who presented inguinal adenomegaly as a key sign of hematological neoplasia.

Furuncular myiasis in Central and South America often presents as a boil-like lesion unresponsive to antibiotics. Diagnosis can be challenging and relies on the subtle observation of larval movement through the breathing aperture. The increasing availability of point-of-care ultrasound may improve diagnostic accuracy in both endemic and travel medicine settings.

Cutaneous myiasis, one of the most frequently diagnosed myiasis types, is defined as skin or soft tissue on a living host infested by dipterous larvae (maggots). However, bibliometric analysis of this disease remains sparse. Machine learning techniques and updated publications provide an opportunity for such an investigation. All the studies were retrieved from PubMed and were processed using R software in the bibliometric analysis and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling. Furthermore, the clinical management of two diabetes patients with serious soft tissue infection-associated sepsis was analyzed. A total of 211 results were retrieved and 50 topics relevant to cutaneous myiasis were determined by the LDA algorithm. The topics of uncommon fly species, nasal infestation, and physician discussion of cutaneous myiasis were consistently common over the last 20 years. Case report remains one of the key features in myiasis. Four major clusters were identified, i.e., case report related, disease type and development, travel in the tropics, and skin disease. To further delve into clinical practice, the clinical features of two patients with soft tissue infection-related sepsis were demonstrated, and a distinct beneficial role of myiasis was found. The levels of white blood cell, blood glucose, and C-reactive protein in the case with cutaneous myiasis were more stable than the other case without cutaneous myiasis but with sepsis shock. Maggot debridement therapy may be a promising treatment and beneficial for soft tissue infection-related sepsis. The model analysis of maggot therapy and its clinical advantages shows increasing research value and possible application in future clinical practice.

Comparative larval anatomy of the digestive system of three Calliphoridae (Diptera) species that cause different types of myiasis.

Myiasis is derived from the Greek word "myia", which means "fly". Zumpt, a German entomologist, defined this condition as the infestation of living humans and vertebrate animals by dipterous larvae that feed on living and dead host tissue, liquid body substances, or ingested food for a certain period. Myiasis is a rare complication that can occur in advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This report describes a rare cutaneous SCC of the face complicated by myiasis. A 70-year-old male patient presented with cutaneous SCC that involved the left lateral side of the nose, medial canthus, and left lower eyelid. The patient complained of multiple live maggots crawling out from a large wound. The larvae were isolated, examined microscopically, and identified as Dermatobia spp. The patient was treated with ivermectin, albendazole, and clindamycin, which were associated with the mechanical removal of the larvae. In the past decade, several case reports have described instances of cutaneous myiasis in head and neck malignancies. These cases were primarily linked to squamous cell carcinoma and involved patients over the age of 60. Additionally, the majority of the reported cases were from India. Myiasis can complicate SCC, particularly in patients who refuse treatment. Combining ivermectin, albendazole, and clindamycin may be a practical approach to managing myiasis.

The infestation of ruminants by fly larvae of the Oestridae family can lead to nasopharyngeal or subcutaneous myiasis, which can harm animal welfare and productivity on sheep and cattle farms. The infestation of wild ruminants allows them to serve as reservoirs for subsequent transfer to domestic animals. The fly species most commonly responsible for myiasis have been well studied in many parts of the world, but less so in southeastern Europe. Here, we identified three botfly species among 197 subcutaneous larvae and 138 nasopharyngeal larvae from 36 wild roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 9 wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) at 30 locations across Croatia. Instars were stored in 75% ethanol and their species and developmental stage were identified based on morphological and morphometric keys. Subcutaneous larvae in both cervid species were identified as Hypoderma diana, while nasopharyngeal larvae were identified as Cephenemyia simulator in roe deer and Pharyngomyia picta in red deer. Partial sequencing of the gene-encoding mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I confirmed the taxonomic classification of C. stimulator and P. picta but was unable to confirm that of H. diana for lack of previously published sequences. This study appears to be the first to combine the morphological and molecular characterization of myiasis-causing botflies in wild cervids in southeastern Europe.

A scalp to make you squirm: Cutaneous myiasis hiding a unique presentation of disseminated coccidioidomycosis

Cutaneous myiasis by Calliphoridae dipterans in dogs from Chad

Cutaneous myiasis in a pediatric patient: An ultrasound diagnostic approach

Key Clinical MessageNeonatal cutaneous myiasis is a rare disease in newborns. Although it is unlikely, the level of suspicion for this condition should be high, especially in tropical regions. Treatment may deviate from the standard approach when necessary, and chemical debridement can be considered, particularly for smaller lesions. Ultimately, clinical judgment plays a key role in decision‐making.Myiasis is the infestation of the skin of a mammal by larvae or maggots. The skin is the most affected organ. However, it can also affect other organs of the body. Gasterophilus and Hypoderma are two flies that produce creeping myiasis, a type of cutaneous myiasis our patient had. The infestation is common in Sub‐Saharan Africa and most especially among rural dwellers. We report on a case of a 7‐day‐old term neonate who reported to St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, a Private‐not‐for‐Profit hospital situated in the Northern region of Uganda, who was admitted as a case of neonatal sepsis with a focus on the skin initially, however, while on the ward was eventually diagnosed with Cutaneous Myiasis. The management plan included chemical debridement with Hydrogen peroxide, IV antibiotics, and other supportive therapies, and the neonate was ultimately discharged home after 9 days in the NICU. This case report aims to inform healthcare workers of the importance of heightening the index of suspicion of myiasis for neonates who present with sudden‐onset rash that can resemble pustules and be mistaken for a pustular rash. Additionally, chemical debridement, in this case, underscores the importance of an innovative approach to managing cutaneous myiasis in resource‐limited settings. Mass education and awareness programs focusing on proper hygiene practices, safe handling of newborns, and early recognition of symptoms can help mitigate the risk of myiasis.

Cutaneous myiasis is an infestation of the tissues and organs of living vertebrates and humans by fly larvae, usually those belonging to the Calliphoridae family. The larvae feed on the host's necrotic or living tissue. Pre-existing dermatological conditions and poor hygiene are predisposing factors for cutaneous myiasis, which is especially common among neglected, dependent patients. Our literature search revealed only a few case reports of cutaneous myiasis in autoimmune bullous disorders (AIBDs). Cutaneous myiasis is more common in the population of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu because AIBDs, such as pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid, are erroneously considered to be chickenpox and are treated with neem and turmeric preparations, alongside poor hygiene practices. We report a case series of eight patients with AIBDs and cutaneous myiasis.

Cutaneous myiasis is an infestation of the skin with larvae of some dipteran species. Among humans, Dermatobia hominis is the most frequently encountered dipteran responsible for cutaneous myiasis. This insect is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions, consequently, individuals travelling from non-endemic areas are most susceptible to infection due to a lack of prior exposure. Three clinical variants of myiasis are distinguished: furuncular, migratory, and wound myiasis. Furuncular myiasis represents the most common form among travelers, yet it is a rare cause of pediatric skin manifestations in developed countries. Limited awareness of this condition in non-endemic regions contributes to diagnostic challenges. In this scenario, ultrasound is useful in the diagnostic workup, enabling the identification of the viable larva.

A case of widespread furuncular cutaneous myiasis in a man returning from Senegal.

Cutaneous myiasis in a pediatric patient: An ultrasound diagnostic approach

The Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina dorsalis, is a major sheep ectoparasite causing subcutaneous myiasis (flystrike), which can lead to reduced livestock productivity and, in severe instances, death of the affected animals. It is also a primary colonizer of carrion, an efficient pollinator, and used in maggot debridement therapy and forensic investigations. In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of L. c. dorsalis from the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, where sheep are prohibited animals, unlike the rest of Australia. The mt genome is 15,943 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and a non-coding control region. The gene order of the current mt genome is consistent with the previously published L. cuprina mt genomes. Nucleotide composition revealed an AT bias, accounting for 77.5% of total mt genome nucleotides. Phylogenetic analyses of 56 species/taxa of dipterans indicated that L. c. dorsalis and L. sericata are the closest among all sibling species of the genus Lucilia, which helps to explain species evolution within the family Luciliinae. This study provides the first complete mt genome sequence for L. c. dorsalis derived from the NT, Australia to facilitate species identification and the examination of the evolutionary history of these blowflies.

BackgroundSarcophagidae is one of the main fly families that is attracted to open wounds, ulcers, lesions, and other injuries for depositing their larvae. The presence of larvae of flies in human tissues makes myiasis. Myiasis on the scalp could be more frightening in comparison with myiasis on the other parts of the body. It is a rare myiasis case that shows the ability of myiasis agents to attack various parts of the body. On the other hand, reporting of myiasis cases by Sarcophagidae larvae is not common due to difficulties in their identification. This study aimed to emphasize the importance of Sarcohagidae larvae in producing myiasis by describing the first case of soft tissue sarcoma infestation and provides a review of human myiasis by larvae of the Sarcophagidae family during 2010–2023 and also a review of wound myiasis cases associated with malignancy during 2000–2023.Case presentationA case of sarcoma cancer myiasis is reported on the scalp of a 43-year-old man who referred to one of Tehran’s hospitals for surgical treatment of cancer. Before surgery, insect larvae were observed in the area of ​​sarcoma. The larvae were isolated, examined morphologically, and identified as Sarcophaga spp.ConclusionsMyiasis has been considered as a neglected disease. Publishing of myiasis cases could be useful to alert health policy-makers about its danger and appearance in the community. It is not usual but can be expected even on the scalp of the human head. Exact daily supervision and dressing of the wound could be recommended to prevent cutaneous myiasis.

Myiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by infestation by the larval stages (maggots) of many species of flies, which occur worldwide but are more prevalent in the tropical and subtropical regions. The two main types of flies causing human myiasis are Dermatobia hominis (bot fly) and Cordylobia anthropophaga (tumbu fly). Cases of human myiasis in Kenya are not well documented, but some epidemiological studies show the tumbu fly to be the most prevalent. Transmission and infestation occur in cases of poor personal and environmental hygiene, especially in spaces shared with wild and domestic animals. Cutaneous myiasis, presenting as a furuncular, wound, and migratory disease, is the most common clinical phenotype that may be associated with secondary pyogenic infection and cellulitis, especially when not treated promptly. In this study, we present a case of cutaneous furuncular myiasis in a patient from rural Kenya. We share our experience managing the patient and also provide a literature review on the clinical case management of myiasis, with a call for more epidemiological and clinical work to be done to better understand this neglected disease.

Cutaneous wound myiasis – A possible infection in developed countries