Fatal Myiasis Caused by Calliphora vicina in Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni)

• Published in: Acta veterinaria Brno Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 123 - 128
• Main Authors: Knotek, Z, Fischer, O A, Jekl, V, Knotkova, Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Freshwater
• DOI: 10.2754/avb200574010123
• ISSN: 0001-7213

An extensive myiasis was observed in an adult male Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) with a missing distal part of the right forelimb and an exposed right humerus. Haematological examination indicated very low haemoglobin levels (37.00 g/l), low packed cell volume (PCV = 0.17 l/l), significant leucopenia (WBC = 2.75 G/l), an extremely low glucose concentration (0.64 mmol/l), hyperuricaemia (519.9 mu mol/l), and a high ALP (30.10 mu kat/l). Forty-three blowfly larvae were removed from the wound with a pair of foceps, using a lavage with saline and low-concentration povidone-iodine solution. The remaining part of the humerus was surgically dissected from the humeral girdle. Necrotizing edges were removed and the opening to the body cavity was closed with sutures. After the surgery was completed, the tortoise responded poorly to external stimuli and died 12 hours after the surgery. A post-mortem examination of the body cavity revealed only an enlarged, ochre coloured liver and no pathological changes could be detected in the other organs. A histological examination diagnosed steatosis and toxic necrosis of the hepatic parenchyma. Twenty-three larvae were kept on 20 g of beef at room temperature. Twenty puparia were available after 7 days. After 20-21 days, 19 fly imagoes (5 females, 14 males) were obtained and identified on the basis of their morphological features as the blowfly (Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830; Diptera: Calliphoridae). It is the first case of fully documented fatal reptile myiasis in the Czech Republic.