Gastrointestinal symptoms resembling ulcerative proctitis caused by larvae of the drone fly Eristalis tenax.

Abstract

We report a case of facultative intestinal myiasis due to larvae of the drone fly Eristalis tenax, also named the rat-tailed maggots. The development of larvae in the lower bowel was responsible for non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms that resembled ulcerative proctitis. The diagnosis was established upon the observation of four spontaneously excreted mobile larvae. The definite identification of the E. tenax species was made possible by scanning electron microscopy. The clinical outcome was satisfactory.

• Authors: Guillaume Desoubeaux, Julien Gaillard, Diane Borée-Moreau, Éric Bailly, Christian R Andres, Jacques Chandenier
• Journal: Pathogens and global health (Pathog Glob Health) Vol. 108 Issue 3 Pg. 158-63 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 2047-7732 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24766340 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Diptera (growth & development, ultrastructure)
• Feces (parasitology)
• Female
• Humans
• Larva (growth & development, ultrastructure)
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
• Myiasis (diagnosis, pathology)
• Proctocolitis (parasitology, pathology)