Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

ARTICLES
Year
: 1974  |  Volume : 22  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 25--26

Ocular myiasis due to oestridae


KS Ratnakar, CA Lakshminarayan, U Ramachandraiah 
 Karnatak Medical College, Hubli, India

Correspondence Address:
K S Ratnakar
Karnatak Medical College, Hubli
India




How to cite this article:
Ratnakar K S, Lakshminarayan C A, Ramachandraiah U. Ocular myiasis due to oestridae.Indian J Ophthalmol 1974;22:25-26


How to cite this URL:
Ratnakar K S, Lakshminarayan C A, Ramachandraiah U. Ocular myiasis due to oestridae. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1974 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];22:25-26
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1974/22/2/25/31371


Full Text

Ocular involvement with varied manifes�tations by different parasitic larvae has been reported in the literature, [4],[6] Poor environ�mental sanitation and personal hygiene are often considered as responsible factors. The infestation is usually associated with tissue damage of varying degree. [2],[7]

Recently a rare case of myiasis due to maggots of oestridae has been encountered in our laboratory and therefore considered worth reporting.

 Case Report



A 5 year old boy, son of a labourer, reported to the outpatient department with the complaints of itching, watering and photophobia of left eye of two days duration. Parents of the boy noticed tiny white worm�like structures crawling over the conjunctiva and nearly 15-20 were removed by them.

On examination of the left eye, there was minimal conjunctival congestion. Six small white worm-like elements were noticed. The parasites offered resi�stance to removal and tried to adhere firmly and attempted to burrow into the conjunctiva. There was moderate miosis. Lacrimal apparatus was normal. Vision remained undisturbed.

Bacteriological study of conjunctival secretion did not reveal any abnormality.

The wet specimen examination revealed spindle shaped organisms moving in a sinuous manner along the long axis of the body. The body was covered by tiny, spiny spicules and mouth parts showed two hooklets [Figure 1]. They were identified as maggots belonging to Phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, group Calyptratae and family Oestridae.

 Comments



Parasitic infestation of ocular tissue is not uncommon. Larval forms of various arthro�pod and nematode parasites have been descri�bed to invade the eye. Significant number of them are associated with inflammatory reaction and destruction of tissues. [4],[5],[8]

The family Oestridae of Phylum Arthro�poda has now been split into four families which include Gasterophilidae, Hypoder�matidae, Cuterebridae and Oestridae (sensu stricto). This group otherwise known as botflies, are known to be associated with myiasis in man and cattle. Attiah et al report�ed one case of ocular infestation with Oestri�dae. The present case also belongs to same family but without any tissue destruction.

The infestation sites of these parasites in�clude nasal passages and moist inner areas of ear and rarely eye. No tissue damage is usually noticed in these cases as the developing larvae feed on exudates at infestation site and blood serum. Occasionally this is accompanied by irritation followed by inflammation. The condition of eye then simulates acute catarrhal conjunctivitis.

 Summary



A rare case of ocular myiasis due to maggots of Oestridae has been reported.

References

1Attiah, M.A.H., Salem, H.H. and Elgammal, Y., 1940, Bull. Ophthal. Soc. Egypt, 33, 16.
2Elliot, R.H., 1910, Indian M. Gaz. Calcutta, 45,300.
3Gann, T.W.F., 1902, Lancet, 1, 19.
4Uradwohl 1963, Clinical Laboratory Methods and diagnosis. C.V. Mosby Company.
5Keyt, F.T. 1900 Brit. Med. J., 1, 316.
6MacCallan, A.F., 1928. Trans. Ophihal. Soc. U.K, 48. 1.
7Reis, W. 1913, Ophthalmology, 10, 152.
8Wahba, A. 1915. Bull Soc. Ophthal. d'Egypte, p. 84.