Umbilical Myiasis by Cochliomyia hominivorax in an Infant in Colombia

Abstract

Myasis is the infestation by fly larvae (Diptera) in live vertebrates including humans. Myasis has been reported most commonly in tropical and subtropical areas around the world with poor sanitation and presence of cattle. Neonatal umbilical myiasis is an important cause of death in bovines and produces major economic losses in the livestock industry. However, its presentation in humans is rare, with a few cases reported worldwide. Moreover, umbilical myasis can be life-treating due to the risk of larvae migration to deeper tissues of the abdomen, omphalitis, and sepsis. We describe the case of a 7-day-old infant admitted to the hospital due to umbilical cord myiasis. In total, 55 larvae were removed from the wound and identified as Cochliomyia hominivorax. The patient recovered satisfactorily after treatment with ivermectin and amoxicillin. A literature search was performed in Pubmed, Medline, Lilacs and Google Scholar, with 64 cases of myasis by C. hominivorax being reviewed. Oral cavity, wounds, scalp and natural orifices are the main affected anatomical areas. Risk factors include the extremes of age, male sex, poor hygiene, alcohol and drug use, cancer, and mental disability. Programs for human myiasis prevention and surveillance are needed in neotropical areas where living conditions make it difficult to implement control strategies.

Myiasis in a Neglected Elderly: Urgent Action Needed in South America

“… 9 The larvae of this fly species were also detected in Venezuela in a total of 241 cases of myiasis throughout the country, including older adults and children, over an 8-year period, according to official data. 10 In Colombia, a dramatic case of myiasis in the umbilical cord of a 7-day-old child caused by C. hominivorax larvae was reported 11 and, in another case study, C. hominovorx larvae were isolated from the scalp abscesses of a 7-year-old girl with pediculosis. 12 In Brazil, C. hominivorax was identified as the most frequent biological agent in cases of myiasis treated in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro.…”

An interesting case of neonatal aural myiasis in a 13 hours old neonate in a tertiary care hospital

“…For etiological diagnosis, the larvae should be immersed in hot water for 30 sec to retain length and morphology and then preserved in a 70-90% ethanol solution or isopropyl alcohol and should be submitted to a center of entomology, parasitology and vector control to identify and preserve the larvae. 13 The natural history of each species suggests its potential for invasiveness.…”

Ophthalmomyiasis in a preterm neonate resulting in blindness: A case report from Botswana

“…Myiasis is even rare in neonates. Whereas most published cases in neonates describe community-acquired umbilical myiasis ( 4 – 10 ), neonatal ophthalmomyiasis has been scantily described ( 2 , 11 , 12 ). Other sites reported among neonates are ear ( 13 ), nasopharynx ( 14 ), oral ( 15 ), skin ( 16 ), and intestine ( 17 ).…”