 |
This article has been peer reviewed but is awaiting expert review. If you would like to help with this, please see more information about expert reviewing. |
Introduction
Myiasis is the parasitism of living animals by dipteran larvae. Myiasis can be obligatory or facultative (optional) and is described as cutaneous, nasal or somatic.
Wohlfahrtia spp.
- Obligatory parasite
- Occurs in North America
- Parasite of mink and sometimes humans
Recognition
- Large 8-14mm long
- Pale grey
- Black stripes on thorax
- Black spots on abdomen
Life cycle
- Larvae deposited directly onto host
- No egg stage
- Larvae moult twice on host then fall to ground to pupate
Pathogenesis
- Larvae penetrate intact skin
- Cause boil like swellings