Flies and Myiasis

Lecture 14

Myiasis Defined
The invasion of organs and tissues of humans
or other vertebrate animals with dipterous
larvae, which for at least a period feed upon the
living or dead tissue or, in the case of intestinal
myiasis, on the hosts ingested food.

Types of Myiasis
Accidental or Pseudomyiasis
Insects in the family Muscidae
Larval stage is the problem stage
Enteric, accidental, rectal, and urinary

Facultative
Maggot therapy
Maggots free-living, attack carcasses, may attack living
host.

Obligatory
Maggots live on a live host for part of their life.

Myiasis Producing Flies

Three Main Families:
(1) Calliphoridae (2) Sarcophagidae
(3) Oestridae

Black Blow Fly

Livestock Myiasis causing flies

Calliphoridae: Non-Metallic Flies

Cordylobia anthropophaga

Life-Cycle
Eggs Larvae Pupae Adult
Females lay 100-300 eggs. (1-3 days)
Larvae attach to host or washed clothing placed on
ground.
1st instar
2nd instar
3rd instar (11-15 mm)
8-12 days larvae wriggle out of boil to ground.
Larvae bury themselves and then pupate
Adults emerge (feed on rotting fruit, carrion, and feces).

Medical Importance

Traumatic or nasopharyngeal myiasis.

Cause boil-like swellings
Usually 1 or 2 larvae are found in a patient.
Infections prevented by not spreading clothes on the
ground.
Dogs and rats are commonly infected.
To Remove:
Cover the small hole with med. Liquid paraffin.
Gently press around the swelling

Calliphoridae: Metallic Flies

Cochliomyia hominivorax

Life Cycle
Eggs Larvae Pupae Adult
10-400 eggs on wounds, scabs, sores, etc.
3rd instar is formed in 2-3 days and is maggot-shaped.
Mature larvae wriggle out after 4-12 days, drop to
ground.
Pupate in soil
Adults emerge after 7-12 days.

Medical Importance
Often results in considerable damage and disfigurement,
esp. if face is attacked.
When invade nose, mouth, eyes they can cause severe
pain.
Larvae may eat their way through the palate.
Putrid-smelling discharges and ulcerations.
Treatment should be immediate!
Irrigate infested areas with ethanol + Veggie oil
Some forms of myiasis may require surgery.

Calliphoridae: Metallic Flies

Lucilia
spp.

Calliphoridae: Metallic Flies

Calliphora
spp.

Life Cycle

Eggs laid on meat, fish, carrion, occasionally on wounds.

Eggs hatch 8-12 hours.
Larvae are maggot-shaped, period lasts 4-8 days.
Mature larvae bury into soil and pupate.
Puparial period (6-14 days).
Adults emerge and begin feeding and laying eggs.

Similar for both the Green and Bluebottle flies.

Medical Importance

Facultative myiasis.
Dirty habit
Larvae feed mainly on pus, not much damage.
Occasionally intestinal myiasis is reported.
Removal is easy.
Rarely invade healthy tissue.

Maggot Therapy

Has been used for centuries.

American Civil War (1861-65)
Recently rediscovered and
FDA approved for use.
Usually Greenbottle flies are
used.

Sarcophagidae: Flesh-Flies
Sarcophaga spp.

Life Cycle
Larvae are scavengers
Development is rapid (3-4 days)
Pupate in soil (7-12 days)
Adults emerge and go to carrion to feed.

Medical Importance
Facultative myiasis
Cause little to no damage as they feed on necrotic
tissue.
Accidental intestinal myiasis.
Most enteric myiasis are Sarcophagidae or Muscidae.

Oestridae: Bot Flies

Dermatobia hominis
Occurs primarily in lowland forests

Dermatobia hominis larva

Dermatobia hominis larva

Life Cycle
1st instar (4-11 days)
Drop into host skin
2nd instar- bottle w/neck
(pear).
3rd instar oval w/spines.
Pupate in soil
Adults emerge (4-11 wks)

Medical Importance

Invade subcutaneous tissues in various parts of body.

Produce boil-like swellings.
Lots of discomfort and pain.
See in U.S as people bring back from other countries.

Difficult to remove by squeezing out.

Surgery may be required.
Place meat or medicinal liquid paraffin.

Control of Myiasis Species

Control or eradication of the fly
population - through environmental
sanitation or chemical control.
Avoidance of infestation- do not sleep
outdoors or on the ground during fly
activity, dress or cover wounds to avoid
fly strikes, use screening
Treatment of infestation (remove larvae
- antibiotic follow-up)

Other Myiasis Causing Flies

Black Blow Fly
Breeds mainly on carrion

Several species of flies cause myiasis in livestock.

Occasionally humans become infected.
Several species of flies cause myiasis in wildlife.

Caribou throat with two

nose bots.