A nondestructive technique for the sex identification of third instar Cochliomyia macellaria larvae.

Forensic entomology plays an important role in medicolegal investigations by using insects, primarily flies, to estimate the time of colonization. This estimation relies on the development of the flies found at the (death) scene and can be affected (and sometimes corrected) by external factors, such as temperature and humidity, and internal factors, such as species and sex. This study leverages infrared (IR) spectroscopy combined with machine learning models-Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting trees Discriminant Analysis (XGBDA)-to differentiate between male and female Cochliomyia macellaria larvae, commonly found on human remains. Significant vibrational differences were detected in the infrared spectra of third instar C. macellaria larvae, with distinct peaks showing variations in relative absorbance between sexes, suggesting differences in biochemical compositions such as cuticular proteins and lipids. The application of PLS-DA and XGBDA yielded high classification accuracies of about 94% and 96%, respectively, with female spectra consistently having higher sensitivity than males. This non-destructive approach offers the potential to refine supplemental post-mortem interval estimations significantly, enhancing the accuracy of forensic analyses.

A case report of female vaginal myiasis.

Introduction and importance: Myiasis, a rare affliction, is distinguished by the infestation of human organs by larvae of the Diptera species. Although myiasis is commonly observed in the skin, eyes, ears, and nasopharynx, the occurrence of human genital myiasis is infrequent. Instances of vulvar and prolapsed uterus myiasis have been previously documented. Case presentation: In this study, the authors present a case of vaginal myiasis in a young female residing in the warm and humid climate of south China. The treatment approach involved manual extraction of the maggots and vaginal irrigation with a 0.01% potassium permanganate solution for 7 days. As 1 month followed up, she was cured and then changed residence, and the vaginal myiasis was not recurrence. Clinical discussion: In reported myiasis cases, mechanical extraction of maggots, debridement of necrotic tissue, and irrigation with antiseptic solutions, such as 1% ivermectin solution in propylene glycol were the treatment of myiasis. In this case, a low-concentration solution of potassium permanganate, serving as an oxidizing agent, was utilized as a vaginal douching agent, and had a good effect. Conclusion: Vaginal infestation of maggots likely occurred due to unsanitary intercourse in a suitable environment, removal of maggots and vaginal irrigation with low-concentration solution of potassium permanganate may be an effective therapy.

Scrotal Myiasis in a Child Due to Cordylobia anthropophaga.

Human myiasis is caused by the invasion of tissue or organs by maggots of certain dipterous flies. The present case is of an eight-year-old boy complaining of painful swelling in the scrotum with localized discharge. A maggot was removed and sent to a specialized laboratory for identification. The case was diagnosed as a scrotal myiasis caused by Cordylobia anthropophaga. The wound was cleaned with antiseptics, then antibiotic treatment was applied. Two days later, the wound healed completely. All previously documented cases of scrotal myiasis were associated with Dermatobia hominis. We document here the first case of scrotal myiasis in children caused by C. anthropophaga, and the necessity to raise awareness of myiasis among health professionals.

Protective effects of the bioactive peptide from maggots against skin flap ischemia‒reperfusion injury in rats.

Ischemia‒reperfusion (I/R) injury is a frequently observed complication after flap surgery, and it affects skin flap survival and patient prognosis. Currently, there are no proven safe and effective treatment options to treat skin flap I/R injury. Herein, the potential efficacies of the bioactive peptide from maggots (BPM), as well as its underlying mechanisms, were explored in a rat model of skin flap I/R injury and LPS- or H2O2-elicited RAW 264.7 cells. We demonstrated that BPM significantly ameliorated the area of flap survival, and histological changes in skin tissue in vivo. Furthermore, BPM could markedly restore or enhance Nrf2 and HO-1 levels, and suppress the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TLR4, p-IκB, NFκB p65, p-p65, IL-6, and TNF-α in I/R-injured skin flaps. In addition, BPM treatment exhibited excellent biocompatibility with an adequate safety profile, while it exhibited superior ROS-scavenging ability and the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes in vitro. Mechanistically, the above benefits related to BPM involved the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 and suppression of TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, this study may provide a scientific basis for the potential therapeutic effect of BPM in the prevention of skin flap I/R injury and other related diseases.

Diatoms in maggots; a potential tool for drowning diagnosis - A preliminary study.

Advanced putrefaction causes extensive loss of soft tissue, rendering it difficult to use the diatom test as a reliable diagnostic tool for drowning investigations. A positive diatom test in carrion insect larvae may provide significant assistance in overcoming the challenge of decomposition. The studies determined the utility of diatom test in carrion larvae on severely decomposed bodies. A modified acid digestion method involving nitric acid, K2Cr2O7 and HCl, was used to digest the blowfly larvae feeding on piglet carrion previously drowned in freshwater and sea water, respectively. Extracted diatom frustules were analysed and characterised using light microscopy coupled to a digital camera. Diatoms recovered from maggots on sea-drowned piglets were similar to diatoms from sea water (drowning medium). Centric diatoms recovered in maggots were higher (200 ± 60 diatoms/ mL) than pennate diatoms (80 ± 20 diatoms/mL). Isolated diatoms common to both maggots and water samples included Coscinodiscus sp. and Navicular spp. Albeit, there were no diatoms recovered from maggots on freshwater-drowned piglets. The findings of this study suggest that the diatom test is still a reliable diagnostic tool to determine if drowning was involved in the death of a fully decomposed body. This is the first study that isolated diatoms from maggots feeding on drowned bodies. It serves as the basis for further research into the utility of maggots for drowning investigations.

Efficacy of commercially available entomopathogenic nematodes against insect pests of canola in Alberta, Canada.

Certain entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae are among the most studied biocontrol tools, some of which are commercially available against pest insects. Their use against foliar and subterranean insect pests is largely unexplored in the Canadian Prairies. We conducted a laboratory-based study to produce baseline information on the biocontrol potential of a few commercial EPN species. Percent mortality of flea beetles, diamondback moths (DBMs), lygus, cabbage root maggots, and black cutworms (BCWs) was assessed after 72 hours exposure to Steinernema carpocapsae, S. kraussei, S. feltiae, and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora at varying concentrations (25, 50, 100, and 200 infective juveniles (IJs) per larvae, pupae, or cm2 of soil surface). Irrespective of concentration level, S. carpocapsae and S. kraussei caused significant mortality in DBM and BCW larvae compared with H. bacteriophora.S. kraussei, and S. feltiae were more efficient than S. carpocapsae in controlling root maggot larvae. H. bacteriophora caused zero mortality to root maggots at any concentration. Root maggot pupae were resistant to entry to EPN species tested, likely due to hard outer covering. Compared with root maggot pupae, a moderate level of mortality was observed in DBM pupae, suggesting differential ability of the tested EPNs in killing different life stages of certain pests. All nematode species tested caused low mortality (≤10%) in flea beetle adults. The findings of this investigation form fundamental data essential for carrying out field-based studies on canola and other related crops aimed at control and management of these pest species.

Evidence for infection influencing survival of the freshwater copepod Salmincola californiensis, a parasite of Pacific salmon and trout.

OBJECTIVE: We explore apparent infection of Salmincola californiensis arising during investigations involving this lernaeopodid copepod parasitic on Pacific salmon and trout Oncorhynchus spp. METHODS: We noted occasional unusual coloration of adult female copepods collected from the wild. These females were bright blue and pink in contrast to the cream white coloration characteristic of the copepod. We also observed that similar color patterns developed under laboratory settings when copepod eggs were held for hatching. In paired egg cases, we found consistent hatching failure of blue and pink eggs and patterns in apparent disease development that would be consistent with both vertical and horizontal transmission. RESULT: Attempts to identify the cause of the apparent infection using genetic methods and transmission electron microscopy were inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Iridovirus infection was initially suspected, but bacterial infection is also plausible. This apparent reduced hatching success of S. californiensis warrants further exploration as it could reduce local abundances. Given the potential importance of a disease impacting this copepod, a parasite that itself affects endangered and commercially important Pacific salmon and trout, future research would benefit from clarification of the apparent infection through additional sequencing, primer development, visualization, and exploration into specificity and transmission.

Myiasis of open great toe fracture wound: a rare case report.

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.

Cerebral Myiasis Secondary to Burr Hole Evacuation: A Rare Illustrative Case Report.

Myiasis (maggot infestation) is a condition in which fly maggots feed off and develop in the tissues of living organisms. Most common in tropical and subtropical regions, human myiasis, is prevalent among individuals in close association of domestic animals and those inhabiting the unhygienic conditions. We, hereby, describe a rare case of cerebral myiasis (17th in the world, 3rd in India) that presented to our institution in Eastern India secondary in the operated site of craniotomy and burr hole few years back. Cerebral myiases are exceedingly rare conditions, especially in high-income countries with only 17 previously published cases with the reported mortality as high as 6 out of 7 cases dying of the disease. We additionally also present a compiled review of previous case literatures to highlight the comparative clinical, epidemiological features and outcome of such cases. Although rare, brain myiasis should be a differential diagnosis of surgical wound dehiscence in developing countries where conditions do exist in this country that permit myiasis. This differential diagnosis should be remembered, particularly when the classic signs of inflammation are not present.

How Rearing Systems for Various Species of Flies Benefit Humanity.

Flies (Diptera) have played a prominent role in human history, and several fly species are reared at different scales and for different beneficial purposes worldwide. Here, we review the historical importance of fly rearing as a foundation for insect rearing science and technology and synthesize information on the uses and rearing diets of more than 50 fly species in the families Asilidae, Calliphoridae, Coelopidae, Drosophilidae, Ephydridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Stratiomyidae, Syrphidae, Tachinidae, Tephritidae, and Tipulidae. We report more than 10 uses and applications of reared flies to the well-being and progress of humanity. We focus on the fields of animal feed and human food products, pest control and pollination services, medical wound therapy treatments, criminal investigations, and on the development of several branches of biology using flies as model organisms. We highlight the relevance of laboratory-reared Drosophila melanogaster Meigen as a vehicle of great scientific discoveries that have shaped our understanding of many biological systems, including the genetic basis of heredity and of terrible diseases such as cancer. We point out key areas of fly-rearing research such as nutrition, physiology, anatomy/morphology, genetics, genetic pest management, cryopreservation, and ecology. We conclude that fly rearing is an activity with great benefits for human well-being and should be promoted for future advancement in diverse and innovative methods of improving existing and emerging problems to humanity.

Importance of an Ent Surgeon in Maggot Removal, Improper Attempt Leads to Deadly Complications: A Case Report.

Myiasis is caused by the larvae of Diptera. Infestation of maggots in ears and nose is extremely dangerous because of their anatomical proximity to brain. Treatment is primarily medical but requires surgical expertise when progressed further. We report a rare case of a two and a half year old girl child with aural myiasis leading to tympanic membrane perforation and required surgical removal of the maggots.

Urogenital myiasis in a post-menopausal rural woman: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Genital myiasis in females is a parasitic infection of the vulval region with the larva of various files species. Only a few cases of urogenital myiasis have been reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of 55 years postmenopausal, farmer female otherwise healthy presenting to the outpatient department with complaints of maggots and severe itching in the vulval region. Examination revealed erythema in the labia major and groin without lymphadenopathy. In the vaginal examination; inflammation and a large number of maggots were observed in the urethral meatus, labia minora, and vaginal canal, progressing to the cervix. With this, she was diagnosed to be a case of urogenital myiasis. She was managed with the extraction of maggots using turpentine oil, along with broad-spectrum antibiotics and Foleys catheterization for a week. Later during follow up, she was asymptomatic and examination revealed no maggots, and the lesions were healed. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Extraction of maggots along with symptomatic management is the mainstay of treatment of myiasis. A significant number of the adult population in the rural areas of developing countries are illiterate and are not familiarized with education regarding genital hygiene. So, along with physicians, policy makers should also be involved in public awareness for genital hygiene. CONCLUSION: Despite being rare, urogenital myiasis is preventable and treatable condition. Efforts at increasing genital hygiene awareness in a low resource country are utmost for its prevention.

Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica: A rare infection reported in an adult with liver cirrhosis.

We present a case of a 60-year-old female with a history of liver cirrhosis, alcohol abuse, and chronic venous insufficiency who presented with maggot-infested wounds on her legs, bilateral buttocks, and groin area. Two sets of blood cultures grew Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica. She underwent wound debridement and treatment with cefazolin.

A Rare Case of Vulvar Myiasis in a Mentally Subnormal Young Woman.

Myiasis is defined as the infestation of living tissue by dipterous larvae and is derived from the Greek word "Myia", which means "fly". Cases of external urogenital myiasis in the literature have been documented in women with genital malignancy, decubitus ulcers, external wounds, genital warts, and sexually transmitted diseases. We present a case of a 27-year-old unmarried, mentally subnormal lady with a history of a painful swelling in the vulva for 10 days. Local examination revealed a swelling in the left labia and an ulcer with undermined edges with live maggots inside it. The patient underwent surgical debridement and removal of maggots. Emphasis should be given to prevention of this condition to prevent re-infestation.

Atrophie blanche complicated with lower limb infection and maggot growth: A case report.

Background: Atrophie blanche (AB) is a thrombotic vascular disease, also known as venous vasculitis or segmental hyaline vasculitis, characterized by chronic recurring painful ulcers on the lower legs, especially the ankles. AB is a clinically rare condition, affecting 1%-5% of the population, specifically middle-aged women with an average age of 45 years, and cases of AB in children are rare. Following recovery, ivory-white atrophy spots accompanied by pigmentation and telangiectasia remain in patients. One of the complications of AB is the parasitic growth of microorganisms infecting the ischemic soft tissue undergoing necrosis in the lower limbs. Furthermore, although infection combined with microbial parasitism is a type of surgical site infection, myiasis is particularly rare, which may warrant limb amputation or may even be life-threatening. Understanding the complications of AB may help in early and timely surgical debridement as well as wound repair. Summarizing the knowledge and treatment strategies of AB and formulating clinical strategies and guidelines for AB management with insights from relevant cases are important. Case summary: A 59-year-old woman was hospitalized due to repeated ulceration of the skin of the right lower leg for 3 years, aggravation, and maggot growth for 3 days. In the previous 3 years, the skin and soft tissue of the right calf had become ischemic, necrotic, and infected, but the patient did not seek any medical treatment. Subsequently, 2 years ago, she was diagnosed with AB at the dermatology department of our hospital. After hormone treatment, her right leg improved. However, 1 year ago, the skin and soft tissue of the right leg again became ischemic, necrotic, and infected. This time, the patient did not seek medical treatment and applied musk on her wound. The wound deepened, resulting in the exposure of the tendon and some bones. In addition, a large number of maggots and microorganisms grew in and infested the wound for 3 days before the patient came to our department for treatment. Debridement of the necrotizing infected site on the right lower leg combined with negative pressure vacuum sealing drainage were performed twice within 16 days after admission. Simultaneously, antibiotics were given systemically. On the 17th day after admission, the wound appeared clean, myiasis had resolved, and the growth and coverage of the granulation tissue on the wound were satisfactory. Subsequently, debridement of the infected site on the right leg, removal of skin of the right thigh, and autologous free skin grafting were performed. After 10 days, the wound was clean, all skin grafts had survived, and wound repair was satisfactory. Finally, the patient was discharged after 38 days of hospitalization. Conclusion: Although AB is rare, leukodystrophy requires specialized treatment and regular follow-up. If lower limb infection and maggot growth occur simultaneously, self-treatment should be avoided and medical attention must be sought immediately. Early implementation of wound debridement and anti-infective treatment combined with wound repair, which should be performed after cleaning the wound, is advised.

Number of rainy days in a week influencing screwworm navel myiasis in beef calves and efficacies of injectable and topical antiparasitics.

Rainfall incidence as a risk factor for umbilical myiasis by Cochliomyia hominivorax in newborn beef cattle and the preventive and curative efficacies of injectable and topical products against its larvae were evaluated. The prevalence of navel myiasis did not differ between sex, however, it did differ between seasons of the year, independent of animal sex, with it being higher in the rainy season than in the dry season for both sexes (males 64.6%, females 62.1%). During the rainy season, rains occurred intermittently and the number of rainy days in a week had a direct influence on prevalence, with an increase (≥87%) in the number of calves with navel myiasis caused by C. hominivorax. When it rained intermittently for four, five and six days in a week during the rainy season, calves had ≈12, 24 and 11 times greater chances, respectively, of having navel myiasis compared to a week without rain during the rainy season. The injectable products did not reach preventive efficacies higher than 35%, while all treatments of topic products reached 100% preventive efficacy at 10 days post-treatment. Only the formulations with 30% dichlorfenthion and 0.32% fipronil achieved 100% curative efficacy. The results reinforce the need for intensified inspection and healing of the umbilicus during the rainy season, mainly during rainier weeks. Furthermore, topical formulations may be a better alternative as a preventive treatment than avermectin formulations. However, the curative efficacy of the topical product containing dichlorvos did not demonstrate a relationship with preventive efficacy for newborn calves.

Evaluating nursing opinion and perception of maggot therapy for hard-to-heal wound management.

OBJECTIVE: Maggot therapy (MT) or larval debridement therapy is a recognised, effective but underutilised treatment for the management of hard-to-heal wounds and infected ulcers. It is available on NHS prescription in the UK, where wound management is predominantly nurse-led. Anecdotal reports and published literature suggest that nurses may be reluctant to utilise the therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feelings and opinions of nurses regarding the use of MT. METHOD: The first stage of this mixed-methods study was a focus group held to discuss MT and opinions of specialist nurse clinicians. Next, an anonymised web-based online survey was launched through the Nursing Times journal and distributed through social media targeting all nurses. Finally, in-depth interviews were held with specialist and generalist nurses. RESULTS: Awareness of MT among all nurses was extremely high. A breakdown of results showed that MT was much more highly regarded by wound specialist nurses than non-wound specialist nurses. The latter exhibited a greater level of reluctance to administer the therapy, with almost one-third of these nurses surveyed saying they found maggots disgusting and that the idea of MT made their skin crawl. In-depth interviews revealed that a lack of knowledge about MT was a prime concern. CONCLUSION: Wound specialist nurses are more likely to embrace MT than non-wound nurse specialists, who report a varying degree of wariness to MT. Our study highlights a need for better education and training in MT for all nurses, to address issues with acceptance and willingness to treat or help treat patients with hard-to-heal wounds which are suitable for MT.

Combined application of moist exposed burn ointment and maggot therapy in wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: Hard-to-heal wounds are a global health challenge, and effective treatments are still lacking. Moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) and maggots are traditional treatments for promoting wound healing. This study was a preliminary exploration of combined maggot therapy and MEBO in the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds. METHOD: A coexistence experiment was conducted to determine the survival rates of maggots in MEBO. The maggots were placed in two different existence conditions: one set in MEBO (MEBO group), and another set as the control group (no MEBO) to compare survival rates. Case reports describe the use of the combined application of MEBO and maggots in the treatment of patients with hard-to-heal wounds. RESULTS: The coexistence experiment indicated that maggots in the MEBO group had a higher survival rate. From the therapeutic effect of the clinical cases (n=7), the combined application was safe and effective, with all the reported wounds eventually healing. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, we believe the combined application of MEBO and maggots is a promising way of promoting wound healing. Further studies and clinical trials are needed to elucidate the mechanism of the combined application in promoting wound healing and to more persuasively clarify the therapeutic effect.

An exploration of public perceptions and attitudes towards maggot therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore public opinion and perceptions of maggot therapy (larval therapy), a treatment option for hard-to-heal wounds. METHOD: The study used a mixed-method approach to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. A focus group was convened to explore opinions and views of maggot therapy with a small group of members of the public. Analysis of emerging themes from the focus group was used to design an anonymised web-based survey, which was made available online to members of the public through email and social media. RESULTS: The focus group participants identified four key themes concerning the acceptability of maggot therapy. The subsequent online survey was completed by 412 participants, analysis of which revealed some worries and fears. Only 36% of survey participants agreed that they would accept maggot therapy as a first choice for a hypothetical painful wound, although this number increased with wound severity. The most predominant concerns regarding maggot therapy were sensation and a feeling of disgust associated with the therapy. However, participants could see some benefits to maggot therapy. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that public perception of maggot therapy is varied. Survey participants expressed worries and fears associated with its use. However, positive relationships existed between knowledge scores and potential acceptability of maggot therapy, suggesting that information dissemination and education may be an important factor in public perception and acceptability of maggot therapy.