A Review of Human Myiasis in Iran With an Emphasis on Reported Cases



Hazratian T¹ ; Dolatkhah A¹ ; Akbarzadeh K² ; Khosravi M³ ; Ghasemikhah R⁴ Show Affiliations
Source: Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences Published:2020

Abstract

Myiasis is the invasion of organs and tissues of humans or other vertebrate animals by fly larvae. The first reported case of myiasis in Iran was ophthalmic myiasis, which was reported in 1975. Since then about 81 cases of human myiasis have been reported in Iran up till 2017. According to this study, all types of myiasis were reported from different parts of Iran. Vectors species of human myiasis in Iran are: Oestrus ovis, Chrysomya bezziana, Dermatobia hominis, Hypoderma bovis, Rinoestrus purpureus, Lucilia serricata, Eristalis tenax, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis, Sarcophaga fertoni, Wohlfahrtia magnifica, Wohlfahrtia nuba, Wohlfahrtia vigil, Cynomyopsis cadaverina, and Psychoda albipennis. There were two age peaks of myiasis infection in Iran: 21- 40 years old, and 65 years old. Specific and primary treatment is removal of larvae from infected tissues. Ironing is an effective way to eliminate eggs, also wearing long sleeve clothes to cover wounds and avoiding outdoor sleep are another way to prevent infection with flying larva. The aim of this review was to determine the prevalence of myiasis in different parts of Iran in order to determine and prioritize the methods of control based on the results. © 2020 UPM Press. All rights reserved.