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BMC Microbiology Jan 2024The zoonotic pathogen Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica can cause several diseases in humans, including sepsis and bacteremia. Although the pathogenesis is not fully... (Review)
Review
The zoonotic pathogen Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica can cause several diseases in humans, including sepsis and bacteremia. Although the pathogenesis is not fully understood, the bacterium is thought to enter traumatic skin lesions via fly larvae, resulting in severe myiasis and/or wound contamination. Infections are typically associated with, but not limited to, infestation of an open wound by fly larvae, poor sanitary conditions, cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, and osteomyelitis. W. chitiniclastica is generally sensitive to a broad spectrum of antibiotics with the exception of fosfomycin. However, increasing drug resistance has been observed and its development should be monitored with caution. In this review, we summarize the currently available knowledge and evaluate it from both a clinical and a genomic perspective.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Gammaproteobacteria; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Diptera; Genomics; Larva
PubMed: 38172653
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03139-7 -
Actas Dermo-sifiliograficas Jun 2024
PubMed: 38857842
DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2024.04.026 -
Case Reports in Obstetrics and... 2023Human myiasis is an infestation produced by fly larvae invading the tissues. We present a case of a 40-year-old virgin woman with vulvar myiasis. She reported at the...
Human myiasis is an infestation produced by fly larvae invading the tissues. We present a case of a 40-year-old virgin woman with vulvar myiasis. She reported at the gynecology clinic with a bloody discharge, severe pain, and swelling of the genital area for six days. Her menstrual history revealed the use of folded clothes. She had no specific gynecological disease. At the examination of the external genitalia, a tender mass measuring 6 cm × 4 cm and an ulcer measuring 1 cm × 1 cm on the surface of the labia majora were found. The patient was hospitalized. Serology, blood, and urine tests were requested; all laboratory tests were normal. The patient was transferred to the operating room (OR) with the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. In the OR, we performed a longitudinal incision on the mass and removed nearly 30 visible maggots. After washing with normal saline, the patient was transferred to the ward without wound suturing. Debridement of the necrotic vulvar mass along with daily washing was performed for 7 days. The wound was sutured on the seventh day at the OR. Antibiotic therapy was continued for 4 days, and the patient was discharged with normal laboratory tests on the eleventh day after admission. We believe that poor sanitary hygiene was the cause of vulvar myiasis in our patient. We conclude that appropriate measures must be taken to reduce the risk of human myiasis, especially in tropical rural regions.
PubMed: 37593321
DOI: 10.1155/2023/5579531 -
Animal Welfare (South Mimms, England) 2024Tail docking is a husbandry practice widely incorporated in sheep farms around the world. It is an irreversible mutilation that impairs animal welfare, both immediately...
Tail docking is a husbandry practice widely incorporated in sheep farms around the world. It is an irreversible mutilation that impairs animal welfare, both immediately and in the longer term. The defence of tail docking as a practice is centred around the perception that doing so contributes to the promotion of local hygiene, allowing the use of the wool, facilitating reproductive management and reducing the chances of myiasis, a disease caused by the invasion of blowfly larvae in the tissues of warm-blooded animals. However, current understanding of farm animal welfare questions the need to maintain practices such as tail docking. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tail docking on the incidence of myiasis in sheep in an experimental flock in Brazil during a six-year retrospective cohort study. Relative risk, odds ratio and incidence rate ratio were the association measures adopted. A total of 4,318 data-points were collected and supplied the analytical model. Tail docking did not decrease the risk and, on the contrary, was found to increase the chances of sheep being affected by myiasis. The results support the hypothesis that tail docking is not a protective factor against the occurrence of myiasis and further fuel calls for a rethink of tail docking being deployed as a blanket measure in the prevention of myiasis in sheep.
PubMed: 38751799
DOI: 10.1017/awf.2024.21 -
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology Dec 2023Although today there is extensive scientific literature on aural myiasis, a historical study of the subject has yet to appear. This short article reports the first...
OBJECTIVE
Although today there is extensive scientific literature on aural myiasis, a historical study of the subject has yet to appear. This short article reports the first description of aural myiasis in the Western medical literature.
METHODS
Methods involved: (1) scholarship review of ear diseases within Ancient Greek and Roman medical texts (); (2) linguistic analysis for text identification through the Library of Latin Texts, the and the Loeb Classical Library; and (3) translation of the Latin texts that described cases of aural myiasis with commentary.
RESULTS
To our knowledge, the earliest case of aural myiasis in Latin medical literature is reported by the Roman encyclopaedist Celsus (first century CE). In his , he describes cases of maggot infestation of the ear and how to treat affected patients.
CONCLUSION
Despite present advances in otology, we believe that much insight can still be gained from this ancient example of medical history in ear diseases. A more comparative analysis of the subject is to be considered in the future, which will provide more data from different cultures and times.
Topics: Male; Animals; Humans; Larva; Rome; Myiasis; Ear Diseases; Otolaryngology
PubMed: 36420690
DOI: 10.1017/S002221512200247X -
Legal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Jul 2023Myiasis is the infestation of live vertebrates by dipterous larvae that feed on living or necrotic tissues, liquid body substances or ingested food and develop in or on... (Review)
Review
Myiasis is the infestation of live vertebrates by dipterous larvae that feed on living or necrotic tissues, liquid body substances or ingested food and develop in or on the vertebrate body. In both animals and humans, myiasis plays a fundamental role in forensic practice because of its implications in the evaluation of cases of neglect and in the mPMI (minimum post-mortem interval) estimation. The present study aims to provide a review of forensic issues related to myiasis. A retrospective analysis was conducted by exploring major electronic literature databases. Methodological evaluation of each study was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) standards. Sixty-one papers were included in this review. Entomology shows great potentiality in forensic investigations, mostly because of its contributory role in mPMI estimation. Such evaluation, however, requires a careful consideration of the possibility of an ante-mortem myiasis infestation, which could complicate the correct assessment of the mPMI. Hence, forensic pathologists should pay attention to the entomological fauna on a corpse, in both fresh and decomposed bodies. Moreover, in cases with poor nutritional or hygienic conditions, myiasis should be carefully evaluated as an indicator of neglect.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Myiasis; Forensic Medicine; Larva; Autopsy; Diptera
PubMed: 37126932
DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102263 -
Tropical Doctor Apr 2024Cases of genitourinary myiasis in humans caused by larvae of flies are reported from time to time. In our study, 11 patients, who reported worms in their urine and...
Cases of genitourinary myiasis in humans caused by larvae of flies are reported from time to time. In our study, 11 patients, who reported worms in their urine and brought these worms to our laboratory, were investigated. The larvae were found to belong to the subfamily . By taking urine samples carefully from the patients, examining and evaluating their history, it was concluded that they did not actually have myiasis. We endeavour to describe the pitfalls in this diagnosis.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Myiasis; Psychodidae; Larva
PubMed: 38087417
DOI: 10.1177/00494755231219529 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Oct 2023Myiasis of an open fracture wound is very rare but can occur due to neglect of wound care.
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Myiasis of an open fracture wound is very rare but can occur due to neglect of wound care.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 12-year-old boy from a low socio-economic background, following an impact injury in his right great toe 10 days back presented with complaints of pain, swelling, and a foul-smelling odor from his right great toe. On examination, a swollen, tender puncture wound was noted over the dorsal aspect of the great toe revealing part of live larvae and serosanguinous discharge. Management was done with the complete removal of maggots, wound debridement, wound lavage, administration of systemic antibiotics, and toe guard slab application.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Wound myiasis results from a facultative or obligatory parasite that is initiated when flies oviposit in hemorrhagic, necrotic, or pus-filled lesions. The possible complications of myiasis include local destruction, invasion into deep tissues, and secondary infection, which could result in amputation of the affected area, especially where obligatory parasites are concerned.
CONCLUSION
Myiasis commonly occurs due to poor hygiene and neglect of wound care along with many other risk factors. Early proper wound care prevents the development of wound myiasis and early diagnosis and treatment of myiasis prevent complication of local tissue destruction and amputation of affected parts.
PubMed: 37811016
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001248 -
Qatar Medical Journal 2024Myiasis is a neglected disease, characterized by ill-defined diagnostics and management protocols. Published epidemiological and clinical studies of myiasis are still...
BACKGROUND
Myiasis is a neglected disease, characterized by ill-defined diagnostics and management protocols. Published epidemiological and clinical studies of myiasis are still scarce, although several countries, such as Oman, have reported a few cases over the past 30 years. This study explores the epidemiological profile and clinical characteristics of myiasis in South Batinah Governorate (SBG), Oman.
METHODOLOGY
A prospective surveillance study was conducted in SBG from 1st November 2018 to 31st October 2019. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected using a pre-designed reporting form for suspected and confirmed cases.
RESULTS
A total of 188 cases were reported, of which 81.4% were male. One-third of cases were 11-20 years old, and a quarter reported exposure inside house. The rate of exposure was 16 per 10000 in Nakhal and Wadi Mawel. About 57% patients reported multiple re-exposure. Almost 60% of patients developed nasal or oral myiasis, 25% developed myiasis in the eye, and 4% in the ear. The most common respiratory symptoms were cough (83%), runny nose (48%), and foreign body sensation (35%). Over 50% of patients with eye exposures had redness, pain, and itchiness. Most patients (89.3%) kept animals at homes. Many cases occurred between December 2018 and April 2019, with almost one-third of exposures occurring at 5 p.m. Re-exposure likelihood for patients residing in Nakhal and Wadi Mawel was high; OR = 2.49 (95% CI 1.14-5.45), with OR = 3.59 (95% CI 1.37-9.39) for 11-20-year-olds and, OR = 3.01 (95% CI 1.07-8.42) for patients ≥ 31 years.
CONCLUSION
The myiasis exposure rate is high in certain areas and age groups, which is most likely associated with animal-related activities. The disease has a significant impact upon people's health in SBG. Therefore, urgent active-surveillance and clinical studies are warranted to explore possible preventive measures and treatment options. Adopting one health approach could offer an effective strategy for preventing myiasis in human and animal populations.
PubMed: 38650828
DOI: 10.5339/qmj.2024.15 -
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease 2023
Topics: Humans; Animals; Female; Child; Male; Myiasis; Diptera; Fathers; Larva
PubMed: 37956728
DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102670