A Laboratory-Based Study for First Documented Case of Urinary Myiasis Caused by Larvae of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

: Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) is one of the medically important insects. Maggots from a urine sample of a 5-year-old Saudi girl were examined microscopically for identification. These maggots were cultured to become adult flies. Larvae and adults were identified using standard keys. Protozoan flagellates were obtained from the gut of the larvae. This is the first report of M. scalaris as a causative agent of urinary human myiasis in Saudi Arabia.

Human Urogenital Myiasis Caused by Psychoda Species Larvae: Report of Five Cases and Morphological Studies

“…Urogenital myiasis by larvae of other species of flies have been reported in the world including the United States of America by Dermatobia hominis (Massey and Rodriguez,2002), India by Chryzomya bezziana (Wadhwa et al, 2006), Slovakia by Lucilia sericata (Nagy, 2012), Iran by Chryzomya bezziana (Jdalayer et al, 1978) and by Lucilia sericata and Wohlfahrtia magnifica; (Salimi et al, 2010) in Spain by Eristalis tenax (Gonzalez et al, 2009), in Nigeria by Eristalis species (Utsalo and Khalifa, 1985) and in Saudi Arabia by Megaselia scalaris (Wakid, 2008).…”

Laboratory Identification of Arthropod Ectoparasites

“…The most common fly larvae seen in these scenarios are drain flies (Psychodidae) and rat-tailed maggots (Syrphidae). Unfortunately, after an identification is made, it is not uncommon for case reports to be published (116)(117)(118)(119)(120), perpetuating the belief that these flies cause clinical disease in humans. Many of the free-living aquatic fly larvae can be readily separated from myiasis-causing calliphorids and oesterids by the presence of a distinct head capsule (Fig.…”

A case of uncomplicated urinary myiasis in a healthy female

“…Invasion and resulting symptoms were self-limited in some cases with dissipation of discomfort and absence of larvae after 1 day to several weeks 5. The mechanism of resolution was not proposed in detail, but it can be hypothesised that immunocompetent individuals are able to mount the necessary response to destroy and eradicate the eggs and larvae.…”