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Dermatobia hominis (human botflies)
Etiologic agent of furuncular myiasis
Epidemiology:
1) distribution: forested parts of Central & South America
2) adult female captures a mosquito or other blood-sucking insect & deposits her eggs beneath its abdomen
3) when the carrier insect attacks a human or bovine host several days later, the warmth & moisture of the host stimulate the larvae to hatch & penetrate the skin
4) after 6-12 weeks, the larvae mature & drop to the ground where they pupate
Pathology:
-> larvae produce boil-like subcutaneous nodules 2-3 cm in diameter
Management:
1) surgical excision
2) raw bacon can be used to extract the larvae [2]
3) duct tape may also be useful [2]
Related
myiasis
General
Dermatobia (botflies)
Properties
KINGDOM: animal
PHYLUM: arthropod
ORGANISM-CLASS: INSECTA
ORDER: diptera
References
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed.
Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 936
- Internal Medicine World Report 20(7) July 2005