Human Cutaneous Myiasis by the Australian Sheep Blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in Oklahoma

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. 1099 - 1100
• Main Authors: Ahadizadeh, Emily N., Ketchum, Heather R., Wheeler, Russell
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Cross Infection - diagnosis; Diptera; forensic entomology; forensic science; Forensic sciences; Humans; Insects; Intubation, Intratracheal; Larva; Male; medical entomology; Middle Aged; myiasis; Myiasis - parasitology; Nasal Cavity - parasitology; Oklahoma; Oropharynx - parasitology; postmortem interval; Oklahoma; medical entomology; forensic science; forensic entomology; postmortem interval; myiasis
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12776

This case report describes an incident of myiasis in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Paramedics treated a 53‐year‐old man in the field when he suffered cardiac arrest. He was intubated by the paramedics and transported to an emergency room, where he received two stents and a balloon pump. He was found to have a GCS of three and remained in the hospital for 7 days before passing away. After his death, the breathing tube was removed, revealing the presence of several maggots. On closer inspection, the dipteran larvae were found in both the oral and nasal cavities. Four of these larvae were reared to adulthood and identified as Lucilia cuprina (Weidemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), commonly known as the Australian sheep blowfly, by the Biology Department of the University of Oklahoma. Based on the fly's life cycle and rate of development, the infestation is suspected to be hospital acquired.