Twenty-eight rural women of the Niger Delta were infected with the human warble fly (Tumbu fly) larva, Cordylobia anthropophaga, and of the women examined, 22 (78.5%) were nursing-mothers. Among the percentage of women with cutaneous myiasis, 20 had multiple myiases in their breasts. Larvae were also extracted from the upper and lower lips of breast-fed infants. A positive correlation was drawn between the incidence of breast and oral myiases.

ABSTRACT

The microbial load and nutritional composition of the Bunaea alcinoe larvae were investigated. The bacterial population of the skin and intestinal content were 8.16 × 106and 5.70 × 105 cfu/g while the fungal populations were 2.07 × 106and 1.32 × 106 cfu/g, respectively. Twenty bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Micrococcus and Acinetobacter were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus occurred on both the skin and intestinal content. The nutritional composition of the larvae revealed high protein (55%) followed by fat (25%). Total available carbohydrate, moisture and ash were 4, 8 and 8%, respectively. The public health implication of the presence of S. aureus is highlighted. B. alcinoe larva is a rich source of protein and can be recommended in the diet of communities where protein is scarce or expensive.

Two hundred people were randomly selected for myiasis infection in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, except in some states where we did not get the stipulated number (200) to sample. In each of the six states sampled within the Niger Delta in 2009, 88% of 200 patients examined in Rivers State had the Cordylobia infection followed by Cross Rivers State (>86%), Bayelsa (>84%) while Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states showed higher than 82% infection in that order. Our findings showed that women, children, and infants are commonly affected by furuncular myiasis irrespective of skin color, age, blood group, race, sex, genotype, etc. Infection due to C. anthropophaga occurs throughout the year; the rate of infection is higher during the rainy season (when humidity is normally higher) than the dry seasons. Most cases of human myiasis are not reported but treated locally. The Niger Delta populace (especially the areas sampled) consists of people with diverse occupations; some are fishermen, traders, farmers, and refuse disposers. They move from one place to another predisposed to myiasis-causing agents due to the types of work they do. Two major categories of people based on skin color (i.e., white and black skinned) are recognized for this research. People with albinism are also part of the colored African group, however, according to the data, there does not seem to be any difference between them and others. Cordylobia infection is a neglected disease of the Niger Delta region. Therefore, there was the need to know the spread and factors that promote spreading as well as populations of the myiasis-causing agent in the Niger Delta. The data presented here provides good travel information to the Niger Delta region as well as other parts of Nigeria. Human furuncular myiasis affects neonates ranging from 3 to 11 days old, children, and adults in Nigeria. C. anthropophaga maggots penetrate all types of skin; people with albinism, white skin, and black skin. Some of the factors that affect the distribution include unhygienic situations, high humidity, poverty, and use of soiled clothes. Details of our findings are presented.

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