Myiasis as a risk factor for prion diseases in humans

Mitigation Strategies against Food Safety Contaminant Transmission from Black Soldier Fly Larva Bioconversion

The black soldier fly larva, Hermetia illucens, can efficiently convert organic waste into biomatter for use in animal feed. This circularity comes with a risk of contaminating downstream consumers of the larval products with microbes, heavy metals, and other hazards potentially present in the initial substrate. This review examines research on mitigation techniques to manage these contaminants, from pretreatment of the substrate to post-treatment of the larvae. While much research has been done on such techniques, little of it focused on their effects on food safety contaminants. Cheap and low-technology heat treatment can reduce substrate and larval microbial load. Emptying the larval gut through starvation is understudied but promising. Black soldier fly larvae accumulate certain heavy metals like cadmium, and their ability to process certain hazards is unknown, which is why some government authorities are erring on the side of caution regarding how larval bioconversion can be used within feed production. Different substrates have different risks and some mitigation strategies may affect larval rearing performance and the final products negatively, so different producers will need to choose the right strategy for their system to balance cost-effectiveness with sustainability and safety.

The Potential of Edible Insects as a Safe, Palatable, and Sustainable Food Source in the European Union

Entomophagy describes the practice of eating insects. Insects are considered extremely nutritious in many countries worldwide. However, there is a lethargic uptake of this practice in Europe where consuming insects and insect-based foodstuffs is often regarded with disgust. Such perceptions and concerns are often due to a lack of exposure to and availability of food-grade insects as a food source and are often driven by neophobia and cultural norms. In recent years, due to accelerating climate change, an urgency to develop alternate safe and sustainable food-sources has emerged. There are currently over 2000 species of insects approved by the World Health Organization as safe to eat and suitable for human consumption. This review article provides an updated overview of the potential of edible insects as a safe, palatable, and sustainable food source. Furthermore, legislation, food safety issues, and the nutritional composition of invertebrates including, but not limited, to crickets (Orthoptera) and mealworms (Coleoptera) are also explored within this review. This article also discusses insect farming methods and the potential upscaling of the industry with regard to future prospects for insects as a sustainable food source. Finally, the topics addressed in this article are areas of potential concern to current and future consumers of edible insects.

External ophthalmomyiasis by Oestrus ovis in tourists visiting Italy. Report of three cases and a literature review

BACKGROUND

Oestrus ovis is a dipteran parasite responsible of myiasis in small ruminants and reported as the causative agent of myiasis in humans particularly in sheep farming areas. In recent years, several human cases had been reported without any previous history of exposure to livestock or visit to rural areas.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe three clustered cases of ophthalmomyiasis externa in tourists in Sardinia and Sicily and discuss them in the light of the published literature. The patients presented ocular irritation, foreign body sensation, pain, redness, and lacrimation of the eyelids. After extraction, all the larvae were morphologically and molecularly confirmed as L1 instar of O. ovis larvae.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study points out the need to draw attention and awareness among the physicians, and to consider ophthalmomyiasis when consulted for conjunctivitis in the summer and spring seasons.

New feed ingredients: the insect opportunity

In the framework of sustainability and a circular economy, new ingredients for feed are desired and, to this end, initiatives for implementing such novel ingredients have been started. The initiatives include a range of different sources, of which insects are of particular interest. Within the European Union, generally, a new feed ingredient should comply with legal constraints in terms of 'yes, provided that' its safety commits to a range of legal limits for heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, contaminants, pathogens etc. In the case of animal proteins, however, a second legal framework applies which is based on the principle 'no, unless'. This legislation for eradicating transmissible spongiform encephalopathy consists of prohibitions with a set of derogations applying to specific situations. Insects are currently considered animal proteins. The use of insect proteins is a good case to illustrate this difference between a positive, although restricted, modus and a negative modus for allowing animal proteins. This overview presents aspects in the areas of legislation, feed safety, environmental issues, efficiency and detection of the identity of insects. Use of insects as an extra step in the feed production chain costs extra energy and this results in a higher footprint. A measure for energy conversion should be used to facilitate the comparison between production systems based on cold- versus warm-blooded animals. Added value can be found by applying new commodities for rearing, including but not limited to category 2 animal by-products, catering and household waste including meat, and manure. Furthermore, monitoring of a correct use of insects is one possible approach for label control, traceability and prevention of fraud. The link between legislation and enforcement is strong. A principle called WISE (Witful, Indicative, Societal demands, Enforceable) is launched for governing the relationship between the above-mentioned aspects.

Oral Myiasis is a Potential Risk in Patients with Special Health Care Needs

Myiasis is a rare disease caused by invasion of tissue by larvae of certain dipteran flies. It is more common in countries with tropical climate. Oral myiasis is not a very common condition and many clinicians are unaware of its diagnosis. Common predisposing factors are poor oral hygiene, halitosis, trauma, senility, learning disabilities, physically and mentally challenged conditions. Oral myiasis can lead to rapid tissue destruction and disfigurement and requires immediate treatment. Treatment consists of manual removal of maggots from oral cavity after application of chemical agents. Use of antibiotics reduces the duration of infection and hastens the recovery period. Good sanitation, personal and environmental hygiene and cleanliness and special care for debilitated persons are the best methods to prevent oral myiasis.

Orofacial myiasis of the gingiva and nasal cavity: a report of two cases and general review

BACKGROUND

Infestation of the orofacial region with live maggots is a distressing condition and many clinicians are not aware of the existence of such an entity. Usually the condition affects individuals who are debilitated, mentally challenged, and physically not able to attend to their personal needs because of lack of psychomotor coordination.

METHODS

This article describes two cases of orofacial myiasis reported at a rural dental school in India. Removal of the live maggots, supportive treatment, management of the cases, and morphologic features of maggots are described.

RESULTS

Both the patients belonged to a low socioeconomic group and were physically and mentally challenged. Maggot removal improved the patients' pain and distress, and entomologic study identified the maggots as belonging to Chrysomya bezziana.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral myiasis is more prevalent than commonly believed to be and an astute practitioner should be aware of such maggots in the mouth, in cases of oral and maxillofacial trauma and in vulnerable categories of patients. These patients are not physically or mentally endowed to ward off flies or complain about worms burrowing their way into oral wounds. Occurrences of such cases are rare in developed countries and reflect the lack of special care for the vulnerable group of patients belonging to certain geographic areas.