Cutaneous myiasis caused by Hypoderma lineatum. 2008

Jernej Logar, and Natasa Marinic-Fiser
Department of Parasitology, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. jernej.logar@mf.uni-lj.si

Cutaneous myiasis is a temporary parasitic infestation of the skin of domestic and wild animals and occasionally of humans by the larvae of flies. Larvae of many flies from various geographic areas can cause myiasis: in Central and South America, human cutaneous myiasis is mainly caused by the larvae of Dermatobia hominis; in Africa, by the larvae of Cordylobia anthropophaga; in the northern hemisphere (North America, Europe, Africa and Asia), by the larvae of Hypoderma spp. A case of cutaneous myiasis in a 47-year-old woman, co-author of the present report, is described. She returned to Slovenia from a three-week trip to Ladakh in Northern India. The parasite, nested in tumor-like swelling about 1-2 cm in diameter and 0.5 cm high in her neck, was removed. The parasite was identified by its morphological characteristics as the larva of Hypoderma lineatum. After the removal of the larva, which was yellowish-white, oval-shaped and about 6 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, the lesion healed in two weeks without further treatment. Clinical and laboratory staff will need to be alert in the future, not only to myiasis caused by Dermatobia and Cordylobia larvae from tropical and subtropical areas but also to Hypoderma larvae from the Himalayan area from where the patient returned to Slovenia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009198 Myiasis The invasion of living tissues of man and other mammals by dipterous larvae. Fly Strike,Maggot Infestations,Fly Strikes,Infestation, Maggot,Infestations, Maggot,Maggot Infestation,Myiases
D004175 Diptera An order of the class Insecta. Wings, when present, number two and distinguish Diptera from other so-called flies, while the halteres, or reduced hindwings, separate Diptera from other insects with one pair of wings. The order includes the families Calliphoridae, Oestridae, Phoridae, SARCOPHAGIDAE, Scatophagidae, Sciaridae, SIMULIIDAE, Tabanidae, Therevidae, Trypetidae, CERATOPOGONIDAE; CHIRONOMIDAE; CULICIDAE; DROSOPHILIDAE; GLOSSINIDAE; MUSCIDAE; TEPHRITIDAE; and PSYCHODIDAE. The larval form of Diptera species are called maggots (see LARVA). Flies, True,Flies,Dipteras,Fly,Fly, True,True Flies,True Fly
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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