Skip to main content

Cutaneous Myiasis

  • Chapter

Abstract

Patton (1921) defined myiasis as “The condition or conditions resulting from invasion of the tissues and organs of man and animals by all the stages of Diptera.” In cutaneous myiasis this means invasion of the skin by the larvae of the Diptera concerned. The number of species capable of doing this is large and many invade other tissues as well. Involvement of other organs will only be mentioned when relevant to skin myiasis, although it should be remembered that the skin is not necessarily the only or even the principal organ attacked. Detailed reviews of myiasis in general can be found in the monographs by James (1947) and by Zumpt (1965).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams JL (1904) Tropical cutaneous myiasis in man. JAMA 42: 947–949

    Google Scholar 

  • Alessandro AD (1978) Comparative experience with Dermatobia in Latin America. Centro Internacional de Agriculture Tropical. Workshop on the ecology and control of external parasites of economic importance on bovines in Latin America, August 25–30, 1974. Series CE13, pp 125–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen EH (1960) Biology, distribution and control of Dermatobia hominis. Vet Med 55: 72–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Aubertin D, Buxton PA (1934) Cochlyomyia and myiasis in tropical America. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 28: 245–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Austmann EJ (1926) Creeping eruption. Report on first case from Manitoba. JAMA 87: 1196–1200

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates M (1943) Mosquitoes as vectors of Dermatobia in Eastern Colombia. Ann Entomol Soc Am 36: 21–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Baumhover AH (1966) Eradication of the screwworm fly. JAMA 196: 150–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishopp FC, Laake EW, Brundett HM, Wells RW (1926) The cattle grubs or ox warbles, their biologies and suggestion of control. US Dept of Agriculture Technical Bulletin No 1369. US Govt Printing Office, Washington DC, pp 1–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Blacklock DB, Gordon RM (1927) The experimental production of immunity against metazoan parasites and an investigation of its nature. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 21: 181–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Blacklock DB, Thompson MG (1923) A study of the Tumbu fly, Cordylobia anthropophaga Grinberg in Sierra Leone. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 17: 444–510

    Google Scholar 

  • Blacklock DB, Gordon RM, Fine J, Watson M (1930) Metazoan immunity, a report on recent investigations. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 24: 5–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady (1923) Cutaneous myiasis in an infant. Arch Pediatr (NY) 40: 638–640

    Google Scholar 

  • Casner SW, Wiseman JS (1965) Human botfly infestation in the United States. Tex State J Med 61: 411–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Catts EP (1967) Biology of a California rodent botfly Cuterebra latifrons Coquillett (Diptera: Cuterebridae). J Med Entomol 4: 87–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman RF (1971) The insects; structure and function. English Universities Press, London, p 321

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheresnev NA (1954) Subcutaneous myiasis in man caused by first stage larva of the gastric gadfly (Fam. Gasterophilidae) (in Russian). Rep Acad Sei USSR 99: 661–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Chown G (1924) Report of a case of cutaneous myiasis in an infant. Wohlfahrtia vigil (Walker) infection. Can Med Assoc J 14: 967–968

    Google Scholar 

  • Cogan BH (1973) Cyclorrhapha of minor medical importance. In: Smith KGV (ed) Insects and other arthropods of medical importance. The Trustees of the British Museum ( Natural History ), London, pp 279–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Curran CH (1939) The human botfly—How did this extraordinary insect develop the habit of forcing a mosquito to deposit its eggs for it? Natural Hist 66: 45–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalmat HT (1955) Cutaneous myiasis of the scalp due to Dermatobia hominis Linnaeus Jr. O (Diptera: Cuterebridae) Am J Trop Med Hyg 4: 334–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Da Silva MP (1912) Nouveaux cas de myiase dus ä Chrysomia macellaria Fabricius ä Bahia. Arch Parasitol 15: 425–430

    Google Scholar 

  • DeGuisti DL, Zackheim H (1963) A first report of Wohlfahrtia vigil (Walker) myiasis in man in Michigan JAMA 184: 782– 783

    Google Scholar 

  • Dove WE (1937) Myiasis of man. J Econ Entomol 30: 29–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn LH (1918) The tick as a possible agent in the collocation of the eggs of Dermatobia hominis. J Parasitol 4: 154–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn LH (1930) Rearing the larvae of Dermatobia hominis Linn, in man. Psyche 37: 327–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn LH (1934) Prevalence and importance of the tropical warble fly Dermatobia hominis Linn, in Panama. J Parasitol 20*: 219–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Everett ED, DeVillez RL, Lewis CW (1977) Cutaneous myiasis due to Dermatobia hominis. Arch Dermatol 113: 1121

    Google Scholar 

  • Field AS (1981)’Myiasis in an Australian abroad. Med J Aust 1: 581–582

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford N (1933) Observation on the behaviour of the Sarcophagid fly Wohlfahrtia vigil (Walker). J Parasitol 19: 106–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford N (1936) Further observations on the behaviour of Wholfahrtia vigil (Walker) with notes on the collecting and rearing of the flies. J Parasitol 22: 310–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrett–Jones C (1951) The Congo floor maggot, Auchmeromyia luteola (F), in a laboratory culture. Bull Entomol Res 41: 679–708

    Google Scholar 

  • Gedoelst L (1905) Contribution ä l’etude des larves cuticoles de muscides Africaines. Arch Parasitol 9: 568–592

    Google Scholar 

  • Gedoelst L (1908–1909) Cordylobia rodhaini nova species; Diptere Congolais ä larve cuticole. Arch Parasitol 13: 538– 547

    Google Scholar 

  • Gertson GD, Lancaster WEG, Larson GA, Wheeler GC (1933) Wohlfahrtia myiasis in North Dakota. Report of two cases. JAMA 100: 487–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon RM, Lavoipierre MMJ (1962) Entomology for students of medicine. Blackwell, Oxford, p 196

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez–Armario JM, Mira–Gutierrez J (1976) Una zoodermatosis tropical lesiones producidas por la “Cordylobia anthrophaga”. Actas Dermosifiliogr 67: 543–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunther S (1967) Furuncular Tumbu fly myiasis of man in Gabon, Equatorial Africa. J Trop Med Hyg 70: 169–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunther S (1971) Clinical and epidemiological aspects of the dermal Tumbu fly myiasis in’Equatorial Africa. Br J Dermatol 85: 226–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrell WB, Mosely V (1942) The surgical treatment of subdermal myiasis due to Dermatobia hominis. South Med J 35: 720–723

    Google Scholar 

  • Herms WB (1950) Medical entomology, 4th edn. Macmillan Company, N«w York, pp 372–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoben WP, Gregory GA, Karlsberg RC (1966) Furuncular dermal myiasis from Dermatobia hominis. JAMA 195: 787–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodges FJ (1955) Cutaneous Cuterebra myiasis. Am J Dis Child 90: 202–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubler WR, Rudolph AH, Dougherty EF (1974) Dermal myiasis. Arch Dermatol 110: 109–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter GW (1966) Medically important arthropods. In: Hunter GW, Frye WW and Swartzwalder JC (eds) A manual of tropical medicine, 4th edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, Chap XI, pp 774–777

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter GW, Berrocal CM (1957) A case of human myiasis in Texas caused by the primary screwworm Callitroga hominovorax ( Coqueral ). Tex Rep Biol Med 15: 378–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Iannini PB, Brandt D, Laforce FM (1975) Furuncular myiasis. JAMA 233: 1375–1376

    Google Scholar 

  • Israels S, Shuman B (1949) Myiasis dermatosis in infancy. Paediatrics 4: 665–669

    Google Scholar 

  • James MT (1947) The flies that cause myiasis in man. Miscellaneous Publication No 631. US Dept of Agriculture, Washington DC, pp 1–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Kandratev VI (1934) Two cases of gastrophylomyiasis in man (in Russian). Med Parazitol (Mosk) 3: 349–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz SI, Taylor R (1971) Cutaneous myiasis. South Med J 64: 759–760

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaye HDL, Higgins RP (1964) Human botfly infestation in the United States. JAMA 189: 650

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingsley HJ (1961) Larva migrans; an effective treatment. Arch Dermatol 83: 510

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleeman FJ (1983) Dermatobia hominis comes to Boston. N Engl J Med 308: 847–848

    Google Scholar 

  • Knipling EF (1955) Possibilities of insect control or eradication through the release of sexually sterile males. J Econ Entomol 48: 459–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Knipling EF, Rainwater HJ (1937) Species and incidence of dipterous larvae concerned in wound myiasis. J Parasitol 23: 451–455

    Google Scholar 

  • Konotey–Ahulu FID, Frimpong M and Dodu SRA (1967) Myiasis from Cordylobia anthropophaga. Ghana Med J 6: 10–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Körting GW, Denk, Sundhausen (1971) Myiase de Tumbu. Bull Soc Fr Dermatol Syphiligr 78: 233–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Laake EW, Cushing EC, Parish HE (1936) Biology of the primary screwworm fly Cochliomia americana and a comparison of its stages with those of C. macellaria. US Dept of Agriculture Technical Bulletin No 500. US Govt Printing Office, Washington DC, pp 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton AH, Dexter MW, Warren LO (1957) Double infestation of varicose ulcer with screwworm and house fly maggots. Am J Trop Med Hyg 6: 336–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee DJ (1968) Human myiasis in Australia. Med J Aust 1: 170–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee RJ (1874) Case of creeping eruption. Trans Clin Soc Lond 8: 44–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis L (1947) Cutaneous myiasis occurring in Western Canada. Can Med Assoc J 56: 319

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan JCP, Walkey M (1964) A case of endemic cutaneous myiasis. Br J Dermatol 76: 218–222

    Google Scholar 

  • McCuiston CH, Schoch EP, McKee R, Wiseman JS, Eads RB (1958) Human myiasis. Tex State J Med 54: 796–799

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie EA (1946) Phimosis from the flesh fly Wohlfahrtia vigil. Can Med Assoc J 54: 52

    Google Scholar 

  • Macias EG, Graham AJ, Green M, Pierce AW (1973) Cutaneous myiasis in south Texas. N Engl J Med 291: 1239–1241

    Google Scholar 

  • March CH (1964) A case of “ver du Cayor” in Manhattan. Arch Dermatol 90: 32–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Mateus G (1978) Ecology and control of Dermatobia hominis in Colombia. Centro Internacional de Agriculture Tropical. Workshop on the ecology and control of external parasites of economic importance in bovines in Latin America, August 25–30, 1974. Series CE13, pp 117–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan RJ, Moss HB, Honska WL (1964) Myiasis. Arch Dermatol 90: 180–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson BH, Smith PE, Desch WH (1954) Human hypodermal myiasis. J Okla Med Assoc 47: 161–162

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Rourke FJ (1954) Furuncular myiasis due to Wohlfahrtia vigil (Walker) Can Med Assoc J 71: 146–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton WS (1920-1921) Some notes on Indian Calliphorinae. Part I. Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve, the common Indian calliphorine whose larvae cause cutaneous myiasis in man and animals. Indian J Med Res 8: 17–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton WS (1921) Notes on the myiasis producing diptera of man and animals. Bull Entomol Res 12: 239–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton WS (1921-1922) Some notes on Indian Calliphorinae. Part VII. Additional cases of myiasis caused by larvae of Chrysomya bezziana Vill. together with some notes of the diptera which cause myiasis in man and animals. Indian J Med Res 9: 654–682

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton WS (1936) Studies on the higher diptera of medical and veterinary importance. The warble flies of the genus Hypoderma. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 30: 453–468

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton WS, Cookson HA (1925) Cutaneous myiasis in man caused by Musca domestica. Lancet I: 1291

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton WS, Evans AE (1929) Insects, ticks, mites and venomous animals of medical and veterinary importance. Part I Medical. HR Grubb, Croydon

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawlowsky EN, Stein AK (1924) Die Gastrophilus Larve als Gastparasit in der Menschenhaut. Parasitology 16: 32–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters H, Kramer S (1966) Zur Differentialdiagnose der Myiasis cutanea in der ärztlichen Praxis. Hautarzt 17: 195–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Poindexter HA (1979) Cutaneous myiasis. Arch Dermatol 115: 235

    Google Scholar 

  • Portschinsky IA (1916) Wohlfahrtia magnifica Schin. and allied Russian species. The biology of this fly and its importance to man and domestic animals (in Russian). Mem Bureau Entomol Sei Comm Min Agri 11 (9): 108. Summarised in Rev Appl Entomol (Series B) 4: 88–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad C, Beck AR (1969) Myiasis of the scalp from Dermatobia hominis. JAMA 210: 133

    Google Scholar 

  • Price AS (1937) The warble fly Dermatobia hominis Linn. Report of two imported cases from Costa Rica. NY State J Med 47: 1503–1505

    Google Scholar 

  • Radcliffe W (1972) Tumbu fly. Br Med J II: 164

    Google Scholar 

  • Rook A (1979) Skin diseases caused by arthropods and other venomous or noxious animals. In: Rook A, Wilkinson DS and Ebeling FJG (eds) Textbook of dermatology, 3rd edn. Oxford, Blackwell pp 911–954

    Google Scholar 

  • Roubaud E (1913) Etudes biologiques sur les Auchmeromyies. Bull Soc Pathol Exot 6: 128–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruch DM (1967) Botfly myiasis. Arch Dermatol 96: 677–680

    Google Scholar 

  • Salomon PF, Catts EP, Know WG (1970) Human dermal myiasis caused by rabbit botfly in Connecticut. JAMA 213: 1035–1036

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders HC (1928) Myiasis dermatosa. N Engl J Med 199: 38

    Google Scholar 

  • Schamberg L, Strauss PE (1961) Bristie migrans. Arch Dermatol 83: 663

    Google Scholar 

  • Schorr WF (1967) Tumbu fly myiasis in Mushfleld Wisconsin. Arch Dermatol 95: 61–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber MM, Schuckmell N, Sampsei J (1964) Human myiasis. JAMA 188: 828–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwetz J (1914) Quelques observations preliminaires sur la morphologie et la biologie de la larve, de la nymphe et de l’image de l’Auchmeromyia. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 8: 497–507

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott HG (1964) Human myiasis in North America (1952–1962 inclusive). Fla Entomologist 47: 255–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverthorne N, Brown A (1934) Cutaneous myiasis in infants. Arch Dis Chüd 9: 339–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Snow JW, Coppedge JR (1978) The screwworm Cochliomyia hominovorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) reinfests the island of Curagao, Netherlands Antilles. J Med Entomol 14: 592–593

    Google Scholar 

  • Soulsby EJL (1968) Helminths, arthropods and protozoa of domesticated animals (formerly Mönnig’s veterinary helminthology and entomology), 6th edn. Bailüere Tindall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer Jp, Snow JW, Smith FE (1980) Effectiveness of the screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) eradication program during 1978 in the United States and Mexico. US Dept of Agriculture APHIS; VS 172. US Govt Printing Office, Washington DC, pp 1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Stabler RH, Nelson MR, Lewis BL, Berthrong M (1962) Wohlfahrtia opaca in man in Colorado. J Parasitol 48: 209–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Suter I, Brown D, Hansman D (1972) Horse botfly (Gasterophilus intestinalis) eggs laid on human hair. Med J Aust 2: 609–610

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweet RD (1962) A clinical occasion provided by a larva of Dermatobia hominis. Br J Dermatol 74: 141–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarry DW (1982) Cattle warble flies and the eradication scheme. In: Ectoparasites of veterinary and medical importance in temperate areas. Proceedings of a symposium held on 5 Nov 1982 at Royal Army Medical College, Millbank,London, pp 68–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Turnlev WH (1954) Screwworm infestation in humans. J Fla Med Assoc 40: 733–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker EM (1921) Wohlfahrtia vigil (Walker) as a human parasite (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). J Parasitol 7: 1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker EM (1922) Some cases of cutaneous myiasis with notes on the larvae of Wohlfahrtia vigil (Walker). J Parasitol 9: 1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker EM (1937) The larval stages of Wohlfahrtia vigil (Walker). J Parasitol 23: 163–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts J (1974) Cutaneous myiasis “blowfly strike”. Aust J Dermatol 15: 31

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildy GS, Glover SC (1982) Myiasis due to Tumbu fly larva. Lancet I: 1130–1131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wohlrabe JC (1957) Primary cutaneous myiasis. Minn Med 41: 323

    Google Scholar 

  • Yount CE, Sudler MT (1907) Human myiasis from the screwworm fly ( Compsomyia macellaria, Fabr). JAMA 49: 1912–1916

    Google Scholar 

  • Zumpt F (1959) The Tumbu fly Cordylobia anthropophaga (Blanchard) in Southern Africa. S Afr Med J 33: 862–865

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zumpt F (1965) Myiasis in man and animals in the old world. Butterworth, London

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

O’Donel Alexander, J. (1984). Cutaneous Myiasis. In: Arthropods and Human Skin. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1356-0_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1356-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1358-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1356-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics