Myiasis in children: the Indian perspective

Forensic and ecological significance of necrophagous insects: Insights from animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients

Necrophagous insects, including flies and beetles, play pivotal roles in decomposition, ecology, and forensics. Their diversity and activities vary across environments, necessitating comprehensive studies for understanding and management. The aim of the study is to investigate insect infestation on animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients to enhance ecological, forensic, and medical entomological understanding, aiding in ecosystem management, forensic investigations, and disease control. Various species of flies and beetles were found associated with animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients, as indicated by the comprehensive study. On animal carcasses, notable fly species included Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart, 1842), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), and Sarcophaga sp., while beetles such as Dermestes maculatus (De Geer, 1774), Necrobia rufipes (Fabricius, 1781), Saprinus quadrigatattus (Fabricius, 1798), Saprinus splendens (Paykull, 1811), Saprinus optabilis (Marseul, 1855), Saprinus chalcites (Iliger, 1807), and Omorgus sp. (Erichson, 1847) were also observed. Similarly, human cadavers exhibited a presence of flies like Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart, 1842), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), and Sarcophaga dux (Thomson, 1869). In cases of myiasis patients, flies including Chrysomya megacephala, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel, 1858), and Chrysomya bezziana (Villeneuve, 1914) were identified. These findings underscore the diverse range of insect species involved in carcass decomposition, forensic investigations, and medical entomology, illustrating their crucial roles in ecological processes, forensic assessments, and disease management.

Otorhinolaryngological myiasis: the problem and its presentations in the weak and forgotten

Introduction

Myiasis is common in tropical regions, but now increasing incidence is seen in the west due to international travel. Otorhinolaryngological myiasis is uncommon and is seen in diabetics, alcoholics or patients unable in self-care.

Objectives

To study presentations of otorhinolaryngological myiasis, identify associated risk factors and species of flies causing myiasis.

Methods

Clinical findings and co-morbidities of 67 myiasis cases were noted. Maggots were identified, manually removed, and patients were managed with topical treatment, systemic ivermectin and antibiotics.

Findings

Thirty-three nasal myiasis, 13 aural myiasis and 5 patients with oral myiasis were noted. Seven patients with head neck wounds myiasis and nine patients of tracheostome myiasis were recorded.

Discussion

Warm humid climate of tropical regions is a major concern along with co-existing conditions like poor sanitation, alcoholism, psychiatric diseases and neuropathies. Hesitancy is seen in attendants and health care professionals to deal with myiasis.

Conclusion

Awareness about risk factors is important in avoiding myiasis along with prompt treatment which reduces morbidity. Tracheostome myiasis is an under-documented entity rather than a rare presentation.

Funding

None

A systematic review and an individual patient data meta-analysis of ivermectin use in children weighing less than fifteen kilograms: Is it time to reconsider the current contraindication?

BACKGROUND

Oral ivermectin is a safe broad spectrum anthelminthic used for treating several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Currently, ivermectin use is contraindicated in children weighing less than 15 kg, restricting access to this drug for the treatment of NTDs. Here we provide an updated systematic review of the literature and we conducted an individual-level patient data (IPD) meta-analysis describing the safety of ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kg.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for IPD guidelines by searching MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid Embase, LILACS, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, TOXLINE for all clinical trials, case series, case reports, and database entries for reports on the use of ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kg that were published between 1 January 1980 to 25 October 2019. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42017056515. A total of 3,730 publications were identified, 97 were selected for potential inclusion, but only 17 sources describing 15 studies met the minimum criteria which consisted of known weights of children less than 15 kg linked to possible adverse events, and provided comprehensive IPD. A total of 1,088 children weighing less than 15 kg were administered oral ivermectin for one of the following indications: scabies, mass drug administration for scabies control, crusted scabies, cutaneous larva migrans, myiasis, pthiriasis, strongyloidiasis, trichuriasis, and parasitic disease of unknown origin. Overall a total of 1.4% (15/1,088) of children experienced 18 adverse events all of which were mild and self-limiting. No serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Existing limited data suggest that oral ivermectin in children weighing less than 15 kilograms is safe. Data from well-designed clinical trials are needed to provide further assurance.

Aural Myiasis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Myiasis is a type of parasitosis caused by the larvae of diptera. It commonly occurs in tropical and subtropical zones. The infestation of nose and ears can be extremely dangerous if the larvae destroy the bone and penetrate into the brain, in which case the fatality rate is reported to be as high as 8%. Here, we report a case of aural myiasis in a patient with congenital mental retardation. Twelve maggots were removed mechanically, and the patient was treated with appropriate antibiotics.

Nasal Myiasis in Hinduism and Contemporary Otorhinolaryngology

Various case reports on nasal myiasis written during the 1990s and 2000s state that nasal myiasis, which is known as peenash among South Asian natives, is a form of divine punishment in Hindu mythology, but do not provide citations from Hindu scriptures that would suggest this interpretation. This paper aims to discuss the phenomenon of peenash in a historical context by examining medical literature written during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, to identify Hindu texts contributing to the belief of some Hindus that nasal myiasis is a form of divine punishment, and to provide an overview of contemporary treatment for and management of nasal myiasis.

Animal-inflicted ocular and adnexal injuries in children: A systematic review

Eye injury remains the leading cause of monocular blindness in children despite 90% of injuries being potentially preventable. Children interact with animals in a variety of situations, and the associated dangers may be underestimated. Animals are capable of causing ocular and adnexal injuries that are cosmetically and visually devastating. We examine the current literature regarding the nature and severity of animal-inflicted ocular and adnexal injuries in children.

Occurrence of Chrysomya bezziana in a buffalo in Jammu

Cutaneous myiasis caused by the Old World screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana, is a commonly occurring infestation of livestock and man in Southeast Asian and African countries. A buffalo, aged five years was presented with traumatic wound in the abnormal growth at the base of tail, housing maggots in it. Based on morphological features, the collected larvae were identified as C. bezziana larvae. The first ever occurrence of C. bezziana in a buffalo from this part of country and its public health significance have been discussed.

Myiasis

Myiasis is defined as the infestation of live vertebrates (humans and/or animals) with dipterous larvae. In mammals (including humans), dipterous larvae can feed on the host's living or dead tissue, liquid body substance, or ingested food and cause a broad range of infestations depending on the body location and the relationship of the larvae with the host. In this review, we deeply discuss myiasis as a worldwide infestation with different agents and with its broad scenario of clinical manifestations as well as diagnosis techniques and treatment.

Umbilical Myiasis Associated with Staphylococcus Aureus Sepsis in a neonate

Myiasis is an infection of live mammalian tissue by the larvae of dipteran flies and commonly found in the tropics and subtropics. It usually infects domestic and wild animals, but sometimes also affects human. Umbilical cord myiasis in the neonatal period associated with sepsis is a rare occurrence with few reported cases in the literature. In this article, authors report a 7-day-old neonate from a rural area presented with neonatal sepsis due to umbilical myiasis caused by fly larval form of blow fly (Chrysomya megacephala).

Aural myiasis in a patient with Alzheimer's disease

Myiasis is a disease caused by fly larvae feeding on the host's tissue. We report on a 49-year-old patient suffering from Alzheimer's disease with aural myiasis. Clinical examination revealed sanguineous and smeary otorrhoea on the left side with 16 alive maggots occupying the ear. They were removed from the external auditory canal and classified as larvae of the family Sarcophagida. Aural manifestation of myiasis may become dangerous if the petrous bone is affected. Entomological aspects, clinical characteristics, and treatment of this rare disease are reviewed.

Nasal myiasis by fruit fly larvae: a case report

We report a case of human nasal myiasis caused by fruit fly larvae in a 33-year-old man who visited the south coast of Turkey. The fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is endemic in the southern part of Turkey. Infestation with fruit fly larvae must be considered in patients who are visiting areas of the world where Drosophila is endemic. This is the first reported case of fruit fly larvae causing human nasal myiasis. The clinical presentation and treatment strategies are discussed.

Aural myiasis in children and literature review

Myiasis is a disease caused by fly larvae. The term "myiasis" is derived from the Greek word "myia" meaning fly. Aural myiasis is a rare clinical state and occurs frequently in children. In this article, six children with aural myiasis, caused by the fly larvae, are reported because of unusual presentation. All of the children with aural myiasis were associated with chronic otitis media. In the treatment, a combination of suctioning and alligator forceps was used to remove maggots under the light microscopic field. Additionally, antibiotics were used in all children. Thus, aural myiasis is successfully treated by direct extraction of larvae and application of preventative methods.

Nodular skin lesion in a returning traveler

As tropical countries become common travelers' destinations, more and more returning travelers are expected to present with cutaneous lesions secondary to myiasis. The skin lesion starts as a small red papule and gradually enlarges to become a furuncle. Familiarity with the characteristic clinical presentation and proper management would avoid an unnecessary diagnostic work-up and therapeutic intervention, including surgery and the use of antibiotics.

Could ectoparasites act as vectors for prion diseases?

Prion diseases are rare neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals with a lethal evolution. Several cell types found on the human skin, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts and lymphocytes, are susceptible to the abnormal infective isoform of the prion protein, which transforms the skin to produce a potential target for prion infection. Iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was also recognized after corneal transplants in humans, and scrapie was successfully transmitted to mice after ocular instillation of infected brain tissue, confirming that these new routes, as well as cerebral inoculation and oral ingestion, could be important in prion infections. Animal prion infections, such as scrapie (sheep) and "mad cow disease" (cattle), have shown a pattern of horizontal transmission in farm conditions and several ectoparasites have been shown to harbor prion rods in laboratory experiments. Fly larvae and mites were exposed to brain-infected material and were readily able to transmit scrapie to hamsters. New lines of evidence have confirmed that adult flies are also able to express prion proteins. Because ocular and cerebral myiases and mite infestation are not rare worldwide, and most cases are caused by fly larvae or hay mites that usually affect sheep and cattle, it is important to discuss the possibility that these ectoparasites could eventually act as reservoirs and/or vectors for prion diseases.

Ectoparasitic infestations in homeless children

Most human ectoparasites live on the surface of their host and depend on that host to complete their life cycle. The most common ectoparasitic infestations of medical importance in humans include pediculosis, scabies, myiasis, and tungiasis. Different host factors are related, with increased risk of acquiring ectoparasitic infestation occurring among the homeless. Although these ectoparasitic infections can be found worldwide, their prevalence is affected significantly by environmental conditions in different geographical areas. This review focuses on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of common ectoparasitic infestations among homeless children and their families. The most frequent bacterial infections associated with these infestations also are discussed.

Larvicidal effects of mineral turpentine, low aromatic white spirits, aqueous extracts of Cassia alata, and aqueous extracts, ethanolic extracts and essential oil of betel leaf (Piper betle) on Chrysomya megacephala

BACKGROUND

Many methods have been employed, with variable success, in the treatment of cutaneous myiasis caused by Chrysomya species.

AIMS

Experiment 1: to assess the larvicidal effect of mineral turpentine (MT) and the main ingredient of MT, low aromatic white spirits (LAWS), on Chrysomya megacephala larvae in vitro. Experiment 2: to assess the larvicidal effects of aqueous extracts of winged senna (Cassia alata), and aqueous extracts, ethanolic extracts and essential oil of betel leaf (Piper betle).

METHODS

In experiment 1, two samples of LAWS were obtained from two industrialists (samples 1 and 2). Adult flies of C. megacephala were bred in the insectory of the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Petri dishes were prepared with pads of cotton wool. These cotton pads were soaked separately in MT, LAWS samples 1 and 2, and normal saline as a control. Ten larvae were placed in each Petri dish. The activity of the larvae was observed and recorded half-hourly. MT and the two samples of LAWS were analyzed by chromatography. In experiment 2, volatile essential oil of betel was prepared using a standard steam distillation process. An ethanolic extract of betel was obtained after boiling the crushed leaf with water, and mixing the stock with ethanol. Betel oil dilutions of 1-4% were prepared using 1% Tween 80 (v/v aq) as a solvent, with 0.05 g/100 mL sodium lauryl sulphate (as stabilizer) and 0.01 g/100 mL methyl paraben (as a preservative). Cotton wool swabs soaked in 1, 2, 3 and 4% essential oil of betel in 1% Tween 80 (v/v aq) prepared as above, 1, 2, 3 and 4% ethanolic extract of betel, 50 and 25% aqueous extract of C. alata, and 50 and 25% aqueous extract of betel were placed in separate Petri dishes. Ten larvae were placed in each Petri dish. 1% Tween 80 solvent with the stabilizer and the preservative, but without betel essential oil, was used as a negative control and MT was used as a positive control. Larval motility was assessed as before.

RESULTS

MT and the two LAWS samples killed the larvae in vitro within 4 h. Chromatography showed more unidentified constituents in MT than in pure LAWS, indicating additional substances in MT. The 4 and 3% preparations of the essential oil of betel were effective in killing 100% of the larvae of Chrysomya within 3 h 30 min. The 2% extract of betel essential oil killed 96.7% of larvae in 4 h. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of betel, the aqueous extract of C. alata, normal saline and the Tween 80 solvent were not larvicidal.

CONCLUSIONS

MT and LAWS, the main ingredient of MT, were effective in killing Chrysomya larvae. Essential oil obtained from betel leaves also showed a dose-dependent larvicidal effect on Chrysomya larvae. This natural product may be effective in the treatment of wound myiasis.

A study of cutaneous myiasis in Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cutaneous myiasis (CM) due to Diptera fly larvae shows different patterns in different regions. Many modalities of treatment have been described. The objectives of our study were to identify the species causing CM in Sri Lanka, the common sites of infestation, and the contributory factors, and to assess some treatment modalities, in particular mineral turpentine and certain herbal preparations.

METHODS

All patients with CM admitted or referred to the Dermatology Unit at the General Hospital, Kalutara, over 18 months starting from July 1997, and all patients with CM from the orthopedic and surgical wards of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo over 6 months from July 1997, were studied. Details of the history and examination were recorded on specially designed forms. Maggots extracted were identified at the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. The modalities of treatment employed in the patients were recorded. In the Department of Parasitology, a colony of Chrysomya megacephala was maintained. Homogenized leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica (neem) and Pongamia pinnata (Indian beech) and mineral turpentine (active ingredient--low aromatic white spirits) were tested for efficacy in killing C. megacephala larvae in vitro. Leaf extracts were not used directly on patients.

RESULTS

There were 16 patients (10 males and five females; the sex of one patient was not recorded). The mean age was 58.5 years (range, 11-94 years). Identification of larvae revealed C. bezziana in 14 (87.5%) and C. megacephala in two (12.5%) patients. The foot was affected in 15 (93. 7%) and the scalp in one patient. The immediate predisposing factor for CM in dermatology patients was infected dermatitis. The other relevant associated factors were: diabetes mellitus, psychiatric illness, leprosy, and mental subnormality. Turpentine was a useful adjunct in the removal of maggots manually. There were no side-effects to turpentine. In the in vitro testing, turpentine was 100% effective in killing maggots. Some patients required surgical removal under anesthesia. Indian beech and neem leaf extracts were not effective against Chrysomya larvae in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

All cases of CM were due to larvae of Chrysomya species. The commonest was C. bezziana. C. megacephala larvae causing CM have been reported for the first time in Sri Lanka. The foot was the site of predilection. Dermatitis, psychiatric illness, leprosy, diabetes, and mental subnormality were some contributory factors. Topically instilled mineral turpentine, followed by manual removal of maggots, was effective in most cases. The plant extracts tested in vitro were ineffective. As C. bezziana is an obligatory parasite capable of penetrating deeply, the importance of preventive measures is emphasized.

Vile bodies: an endoscopic approach to nasal myiasis

Nasal myiasis is the infestation of the nasal cavities by larvae (maggots) of Diptera flies. Several species of flies deposit their ova in the nose and the larvae feed on the host's tissues. We present a case of nasal myiasis by larvae of Oestrus ovis--Sheep Nasal Bot Fly. The larvae of Oestrus ovis are well known parasites in the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses of sheep and goat. In Britain very rarely larvae may be deposited in the eye, nostrils or outer ear of man, usually husbandry workers. Reputedly, the larvae never survive beyond the first stage with acute catarrhal symptoms lasting only a few days. This is the first reported case in the UK of an urban-dwelling patient infected by mature, third instar larvae of O. ovis. His nasal infestation resolved after endoscopic removal of the live maggots.