Myiasis in a Backyard Pig: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Myiasis is a parasitic infestation of livestock animals caused by dipteran larvae. The presence of wounds, lack of hygiene on the farm, and temperate climatic conditions contribute to myiasis. Swine can be infested by myiasis if injured pigs are not treated properly and failure to treat myiasis in time may cause the culling or death of the pigs, resulting in huge economic loss to the farmers. But like humans and other farm animals, pigs also deserve to be treated and cured of any suffering or disease. Therefore, this study is documented on pig myiasis and its management because to date a few cases have been reported on it. Case presentation: This case report documented the successful management of neck myiasis in a male, 9-month-old, 12-kg-weighing backyard pig. The wound site was cleaned using antiseptics and maggots were removed. The site was treated with turpentine oil, and ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg B.W. and S/C. A combination of streptomycin (12.5 mg/kg B.W.) and penicillin (20000 IU/kg B.W.) was used IM daily for 5 days to prevent secondary bacterial infection. The wound was dressed regularly on every alternate day until the complete removal of maggots and the formation of granulation tissue. Conclusion: Through proper therapeutic management, the backyard pig’s neck myiasis wound was successfully healed in 10 days without any complications.