Myiasis (/maɪ.ˈaɪ.ə.səs/my-EYE-ə-səss[1]), also known as flystrike or fly strike, is the parasitic infestation of the body of a live animal by fly larvae (maggots) that grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue. Although flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds and urine- or feces-soaked fur, some species (including the most common myiatic flies—the botfly, blowfly, and screwfly) can create an infestation even on unbroken skin and have been known to use moist soil and non-myiatic flies (such as the common housefly) as vector agents for their parasitic larvae.
Because some animals (particularly non-native domestic animals) cannot react as effectively as humans to the causes and effects of myiasis, such infestations present a severe and continuing problem for livestock industries worldwide, causing severe economic losses where they are not mitigated by human action.[2] Although typically a far greater issue for animals, myiasis is also a relatively frequent disease for humans in rural tropical regions where myiatic flies thrive, and often may require medical attention to surgically remove the parasites.[3]
Myiasis varies widely in the forms it takes and its effects on those affected. Such variations depend largely on the fly species and where the larvae are located. Some flies lay eggs in open wounds, other larvae may invade unbroken skin or enter the body through the nose or ears, and still others may be swallowed if the eggs are deposited on the lips or on food.[3] There can also be accidental myiasis that E. tenax can cause in humans via water containing the larvae or in contaminated uncooked food. The name of the condition derives from ancient Greek μυῖα (myia), meaning "fly".[4]
^"Definition of MYIASIS". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
^Otranto, Domenico (2001). "The immunology of myiasis: parasite survival and host defense strategies". Trends in Parasitology. 17 (4): 176–182. doi:10.1016/S1471-4922(00)01943-7. PMID 11282507.
^ abJohn, David; Petri, William, eds. (2006). Markell and Voge's Medical Parasitology (9th ed.). Missouri: Saunders Elsevier. pp. 328–334. ISBN 978-0-7216-4793-7.
^μυῖα. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
symptoms are not specific. Intestinal myiasis and urinary myiasis are especially difficult to diagnose. Clues that myiasis may be present include recent travel...
called vulvar myiasis. Very few cases have been described in literature. Passos MR, Carvalho AV, Dutra AL, et al. (1998). "Vulvar myiasis". Infect Dis...
severe problems, and mainly causes cutaneous myiasis. Geary et al. describe the presentation of cutaneous myiasis caused by the tumbu fly: "At the site of...
known to parasitize humans routinely, though other species of flies cause myiasis in humans. A botfly, also written bot fly, bott fly or bot-fly in various...
attacking crops and foodstuffs, spreading microbial infections, and causing myiasis. Maggots are also particularly important in forensic entomology because...
Cordylobia anthropophaga Human parasite List of parasites of humans Myiasis "Human Bot Fly Myiasis" (PDF). U.S. Army Public Health Command (provisional), formerly...
of human intestinal myiasis of the rat-tailed maggot (larva of Eristalis tenax). Zumpt proposed a hypothesis called "rectal myiasis". During open defecation...
to immunity developed over time. In humans, the disease intracerebral myiasis is a rare infestation of the brain by the larva of H. bovis. It penetrates...
of living animals. The infestation by maggots of live animals is called myiasis. Some maggots will feed only on dead tissue, some only on live tissue,...
consumed, the larvae can possibly survive in the intestine, causing enteric myiasis, though no cases have been linked to the cheese. Due to this danger, the...
common causes of myiasis in humans and animals are the three dipteran families Oestridae, Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae. Myiasis in humans is clinically...
therapy, are commonly used in forensic entomology, and can be the cause of myiasis in livestock and pets. The common green bottle fly emerges in the spring...
sold for ice fishing. Very rarely, hoverfly larvae have caused accidental myiasis in humans. This occurs when the larvae are accidentally ingested from contaminated...
in the hair follicles and can cause local cellulitis and inflammation. Myiasis caused by the tumbu fly in Africa usually presents with cutaneous furuncles...
their elderly patients. Megaselia scalaris is also involved in cases of myiasis. Megaselia scalaris larvae found on a body can be used in court as a tool...
vector for disease. The larvae of this species can cause myiasis, as well as accidental myiasis. It is potentially useful in forensic entomology. Sarcophaga...
ISBN 9781566650632. West, Anna M. "Myiasis". Retrieved 2009-03-29. BÜYÜKKURT, Mustafa Cemil , MD.; et al. (2008). "Oral Myiasis in A Child Due to Wohlfahrtia...
Infestation of a live vertebrate animal by a maggot is technically called myiasis. While the maggots of many fly species eat dead flesh, and may occasionally...
effective in inactivating African swine fever virus. Treatment of Oral myiasis caused by screwworm larvae consisted of subcutaneous ivermectin therapy...
human host (myiasis). This important distinction between C. macellaria and C. hominivorax was not understood for much of medical history; myiasis of humans...
breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike (myiasis). The wool around the buttocks can retain feces and urine, which attracts...
Flystrike in sheep is a myiasis condition in which domestic sheep are infected by one of several species of flies that are external parasites of sheep...
second-instar larvae. Myiasis is generally defined as the infestation of animal tissue by the larvae of some flies. The larvae of myiasis-causing flies feed...
of the ear canal Fungal infection (otomycosis) Ear mites in animals Ear myiasis, an extremely rare infestation of maggots Foreign body in ear Granuloma...
accidental (secondary) myiasis in humans, where the flies do not pierce the skin but invade an open wound. The first record of human myiasis caused by C. megacephala...
the United States. Although they are considered harmless, some cases of myiasis caused by the larvae of this insect are reported in the literature, at...
Global Information