Facultative myiasis of domestic cats by Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Calliphora vicina and Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in northern Italy

Abstract

We describe five cases of myiasis of domestic cats, Felis silvestris catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), reported in 2016 in northern Italy and caused by three Diptera species: Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Sarcophagidae), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Calliphoridae). Three were cases of traumatic myiasis, one by S. argyrostoma and two by L. sericata, one was a case of auricular myiasis by C. vicina and one was a case of ophthalmomyiasis caused by an association of L. sericata and C. vicina. The myiasis by S. argyrostoma is the first reported case of this species in a cat, whereas the two myiases by C. vicina are the first reported cases in cats in Italy.

Myiasis in domestic cats: a global review

“…of casesSexAgeCountryReference Lucilia sericata and Lucilia ampullacea unk1unkunkAustria[114] L. sericata and Sarcophaga tibialis cut1unkAItaly[116] L. sericata and Calliphora vicina ophth1unkKItaly[117] Abbreviations : ophth, ophthalmic; cut, cutaneous; unk, unknown; A, adult; K, kitten…”

“…The reported cases of myiasis caused by L. sericata in cats occurred in southern and central Europe [108, 111–117], the Middle East [118–123], North America [124] and South America [96, 125]. This species has been found in skin lesions [96, 111, 112, 115–117, 119, 121, 123, 125] caused by traumas such as falls [115], dog bites [116] and car accidents [117], decubitus ulcers and fur soiled by urine and faeces due to neglected conditions [115], old age [117] or postpartum lesions [123]. Lucilia sericata has been reported as agent of urogenital myiasis in three female cats, the first two bearing dead fetuses [118, 122] and the third one with postpartum problems [124].…”

“…Cases of ophtalmic myiasis by L. sericata have been described in a stray cat [120] and in an abandoned kitten, in association with Ca. vicina [117]. A case of myiasis in a cat by L. sericata in association with Lucilia ampullacea Villeneuve (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was reported in Austria [114].…”

Myiasis and Neglect

“…More specifically, myiasis that are well known in medical and veterinary field, are infestations caused by fly larvae that at least for a certain period feed on living or dead tissues, body fluids or ingested food of the host [1]. Many species of Oestridae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae are considered the main agents of myiasis in wild vertebrates, but also farmed and domestic animals and humans [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Myiasis occur in animals when untreated injuries or uro-genital and anal secretions, make the living vertebrate a suitable substrate for fly development.…”

“…[8]. Recently, [7] have reported that in cats, decubitus ulceres and exposed wounds are very attractive conditions for facultative-myasis species (e.g. Calliphora vicina, Lucilia sericata (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Diptera, Sarcophagidae).…”