Gadfly larvae in humans: where do they come from and how to get rid of them?

The gadfly belongs to a family of insects that resembles flies in appearance. The main habitat is the tropics and subtropics; it can often be found in Russia. Insects lay eggs in the fur of animals, but they can also choose humans for this purpose. They do not pose a danger to people, but the gadfly larva can cause significant harm to the body. There are 150 species of insects in total, but only one of them is dangerous - the skin gadfly (Dermatobia hominis), which is capable of attacking people.

How do gadflies reproduce, their life cycle

Knowing that these insects are dangerous to people, they are interested in the question of how the gadfly lays eggs. This “merit” belongs entirely to females who lay eggs in the hair of animals or on human skin. This harmful insect attaches each of them to the hairs with the help of an adhesive substance, and when the larvae appear, they penetrate the skin.

Life cycle of a gadfly

Females catch ticks, mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects, on whose abdomens they lay eggs. At the moment of a bite, the larvae of the gadfly feel warmth in a person, leave the egg, land on the skin and then penetrate under the dermis.

When the gadfly larva is introduced into animals and people, they do not experience any discomfort. The life cycle lasts about three to four months. In the first phase of their development, the larvae are in the body. Before molting, closer to the end of the second phase, they move to the back area, where fistulas appear. Through these small holes the larvae breathe and after some time emerge.

Not everyone knows how long the gadfly larva lives in a person. It develops within a month, but upon becoming an adult, it remains in the human body for about two to three months, after which it leaves it and enters the soil.

The last stage of development is pupation. While at this stage, the insect does not need food, and after 2-3 weeks an adult, the gadfly, appears. After just half a minute, females are capable of flight and reproduction. She can lay about 700 eggs, but only 1/5 hatch into larvae. A photo of the gadfly larva and the insect itself can be seen below.

The following people are most often at risk:

• not observing basic hygiene rules;
• patients suffering from mental disorders, vascular diseases, diabetes, blood flow disorders;
• drug addicts;
• alcoholics;
• children;
• elderly people;
• travelers who are keen on trips to tropical countries.

This is the answer to the question of whether a gadfly can lay larvae in a person. This is a rare phenomenon for humans; animals are most often susceptible to this.

Cutaneous human botfly and its larvae

Differences in life activity and reproduction

It would seem that insects are similar in their goals, they bite painfully, and cause inconvenience with their intrusiveness, however, they also have many differences.

Difference between a gadfly and a horsefly:

The gadfly's task is to breed offspring. To do this, he uses ingenuity to deliver the eggs inside the animal or person.

There are several ways to enter:

• subcutaneous type - bites into the skin, penetrates inside. The goal is to place the eggs closer to the spine;
• A gadfly that places its larvae in the nasopharynx. Circling around the nose, near the nostrils of insects, places the eggs in the nasopharynx. There they grow, go through a gestation cycle, and then leave the body.

• The gastric species tries to place eggs near the animal's mouth or in places that the animal can reach with its tongue, such as the legs. By licking the larvae with its tongue, the animal places them in its stomach. There they go through a growth cycle, then leave the body;
• Another clever way to deliver eggs to the breeding site is with the help of mosquitoes. When attacking a mosquito, the female attaches one larva to it. The mosquito lands on the animal and bites it, and the larva penetrates the site of the bite and through it penetrates the skin. Then over the course of several months it will move towards the back, towards the spine;
• The insect can also plant its larvae on the inside of the eyelid. This is a common situation in animals, but it rarely affects humans. When the larvae get into a person's eyes, they cause swelling and conjunctivitis.

Why is the gadfly dangerous?

The human gadfly lives in almost any part of the body: on the head, arm, chest, leg. It can even be found in the eye and nose. But most of all they love to live in the back and armpits. The stay of the gadfly larva does not go unnoticed, since in the place where it has settled, a small bump appears, as if from a mosquito bite. After a certain period of time, pain, inflammation appears, and the lump becomes red or blue. Afterwards, an abscess is discovered, which breaks through, forming a hole for the larva, through which it gets out.

If a human gadfly lives in the body, it can pave the way to its “liberation” through the nose.

When inflammation occurs, pus appears from the wound, which leads to a sharp deterioration in health:

• weakness appears:
• a person feels nauseous:
• vomiting may occur;
• there is dizziness;
• pain appears in the muscles of the body.

If the parasite gets into the eyes, irritation of the mucous membrane occurs, eye pressure increases, and lacrimation occurs. Bleeding may accompany these symptoms. Therefore, the gadfly is dangerous for humans.

I work as an ophthalmologist. I have had cases when the subcutaneous gadfly, or rather its larva, was in the eyes of a person. Patients arrive with a headache, their eyes are watery, there is swelling and irritation. The task of doctors is to competently eliminate the parasite from the organ, which we successfully cope with.

Control measures

To protect domestic animals from attacks on them, gadflies try to keep the animals in stalls and under canopies during the latter’s flight, that is, during the hottest hours of the day, where gadflies usually do not fly, and to clean their skin more often to remove the testicles from it first. larvae emerge from them. If it is necessary to drive cattle out to pasture or to work at this time, it is advised to lubricate their skin with ointments, the smell of which drives away gadflies, such as: a mixture of kerosene, soap and water, or fish oil, turpentine and sulfur color, also: lard (20 parts) and carbolic acid (1 part) and, finally, some fat and sulfur color; Lubrication is carried out once or twice a week and then the gadflies do not touch the oiled cattle.

To repel viviparous nasal botflies, for example, sheep, smear the muzzles of the sheep with linseed oil (2 pounds), in which wax (1 pound) is dissolved during boiling and, after cooling, carbolic acid (4 ounces) is added, or an ointment is made from equal parts of tar and fat .

Those sheep that are already infected should be selected and killed for meat, and their heads should be thoroughly boiled to kill the larvae in the frontal sinuses. Larvae found in tumors of the skin of cattle and horses are killed by introducing into the tumor, through its openings, lumps of some fat, which clogs the spiracles of the larva and thereby kills it; they also put in lumps of gray mercury ointment or pour in kerosene, which, although it produces acute pain, also kills the larvae; you can simply remove them with your fingers, having first widened the opening of the tumor with incisions, without which the larva, which holds very firmly in its place, can be difficult to grasp; The larvae are killed at the end of winter, when the tumors become clearly visible.

To kill the larvae of the white-headed gadfly that enter the human eye, the local Kyrgyz inject into the eye, immediately after infection, an aqueous infusion of tobacco leaves, which produces severe pain, but quickly kills the larvae, and the pain goes away as soon as the eye is washed with water.

Gadflies do not drink blood, but sometimes they can be much more annoying than horse flies. Botflies are especially harmful to livestock: they often grow their larvae in the skin of animals. Gadflies parasitize different parts of the animal’s body: lips, eyes, nose. The larvae of the gastric botfly develop directly in the stomach. To penetrate the body, the female gadfly lays larvae on those parts of the body that the animal most often scratches with its teeth. Once the larva enters the mouth, it takes about a month to reach the stomach.

Some gadflies attach their larvae to the grass, through which the larva enters the animal's stomach. The subcutaneous gadfly lays larvae under the skin of the animal. For several months, the larvae move towards the back of their victim. To pupate, they emerge through a fistulous opening in the back.

Why is the gadfly dangerous?

As a result of the vital activity of a large number of gadfly larvae, the infected animal often dies, contracting pneumonia or “false whirlpool.”

Gadflies are also dangerous for humans (only one species is dangerous for humans - the human skin botfly). They can cause conjunctivitis by spraying their larvae into the eye. Sometimes the larvae penetrate not only the eyes, but also the head of a person. In this case, the victim needs surgery. As a result, a person may lose vision.

The fight against gadflies comes down to disinfestation of their most common habitats and the animals themselves. All the means we use to combat gadflies are completely safe for humans and animals, but they are fatal for parasitic insects.

How does deletion work?

Removing gadfly larvae is an operational procedure that must be performed by a specialist. Before proceeding with the extraction of the parasite, the doctor degreases the site of the abscess using a solution of furatsilin or another remedy indicated for this case. After this, sterile oil is dripped into the hole, which will not allow the larvae to breathe. Lack of oxygen forces her to come out. As soon as it begins to emerge from the hole, the doctor removes it using a special medical instrument and applies a bandage.

Removing gadfly larvae

A quick and effective method is surgery. Removing gadfly larvae is a painless process, as it takes place under anesthesia. The doctor makes a small incision, removes the larva, applies a bandage and prescribes a course of treatment with antibiotics. After 1-2 weeks the wound heals. Sometimes scars remain on the body.

It is not recommended to remove the larva yourself. It holds onto the tissue quite tightly and is located deep in the epidermis. If a person tries to remove it themselves, there is a possibility that part of the larva will remain under the skin. As a result, the inflammatory process and suppuration will begin.

Random

The diseases are caused by flies that usually lay eggs in rotting organic matter. A person becomes infected with these larvae accidentally by ingesting them in food or wearing underwear. For the most part, eggs swallowed by a person are dissolved by gastric juice, but sometimes maggots can penetrate the intestines, causing intestinal myiasis. If a fly lays eggs on wet laundry, the larva can penetrate the urethra, causing genitourinary myiasis.

Occasional cavitary myiases are caused by many flies:

• blue meat (Calliphora vicina);
• indoor (Musca domestica);
• green meat (Lucilla sericata);
• brownie (Muscina stabulans);
• small indoor (Fannia canicularis);
• fruit flies (family Drosophilidae);
• cheese (Piophila casei).

These are not the only, but the main types of flies that infect humans.

Interesting!

A person usually causes intestinal myiasis with cheese fly larvae by eating a dubious delicacy: rotten cheese infected with cheese flies.

Accidental myiasis

Prevention

The larva of a gadfly under human skin can most often be found in residents and guests of tropical countries. Many people today visit America, Mexico, Argentina; in Russian regions there is also a gadfly that can lay eggs on the skin of animals and humans. You should be aware of this and need to prepare in advance. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• do not appear in places where gadflies live in large numbers;
• wear clothing that protects against bites;
• use repellents that are sold in assortment in stores.

By following these simple rules, gadfly larvae will not appear in the human body. But if this happens, you should treat the wound using special means. If something starts to bother you, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Vectors of infections

But the main danger for animals and humans is not that horseflies drink their blood, but that they inject their saliva with toxic and anticoagulant components into the tissues. Accordingly, the blood does not clot for a long time and continues to ooze from the wound even long after the bite. But in addition to these components, horsefly saliva often contains nematodes and other bacteria. These large flies are the main carriers of such dangerous diseases as anthrax, tularemia, trypanosomiasis, filariasis, and at the initial stage of infection, people usually do not consult a doctor, believing that the ulcers and infestations growing at the site of the bite are just the consequences of a horsefly attack. Meanwhile, the treatment of all these diseases, not in the initial, but in the acute phase, can seriously undermine health.

Therefore, immediately after a horsefly attack, you should apply pressure to the bite site to reduce the spread of its saliva, cool the swollen skin with ice, rinse the wound with water and cauterize it with alcohol, brilliant green or iodine. If during the first 24 hours after the bite the redness and swelling on the skin does not subside, but rather begins to increase, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

There are about 150 species of gadflies, but 2 species are dangerous to humans, which are often found in our country.

Subcutaneous gadflies tend to lay eggs by attaching them to the hair on the animal's body. Next, the mature larvae penetrate the skin into the body and migrate through the tissues, making their way up to the back of the animal, causing myiasis. And finally, the mature larvae get under the skin of the back, form nodules with fistulas and come out. But the animal remains alive.

Gadfly larvae in animals

Pets, like humans, are susceptible to various diseases. There are many cases where gadfly larvae in a dog were discovered by people. This applies to a greater extent to homeless animals. Insects lay eggs in the sand, the dog, having run around, lies down to rest, and allows them to move into the animal’s body.

Gadfly larvae were also present in the kitten. Doctors demonstrate operations to remove them in videos. The sight is not very pleasant. If animals are not brought to the veterinary service in time, they may die. If gadflies appear in the house, it is recommended to purchase products to get rid of these insects. It would also be a good idea to buy or make a trap yourself.

Among over 150 species of gadflies, only one is dangerous to humans, called Dermatobia Hominis. It cannot be found in Russia and the CIS countries - the insect is found only in countries with a tropical climate: Central America, Argentina and some areas of Mexico. A gadfly larva in a person can cause a lot of unpleasant phenomena: inflammation, suppuration, disruption of the normal functioning of body systems, and surgical intervention may be required to remove it.

Classification

The family is divided into four subfamilies:

• American subcutaneous gadflies (Cuterebrinae Brauer, 1887). Subcutaneous parasites, predominantly of rodents and lagomorphs, common in the Nearctic and Neatropic regions. Humans are attacked by the human skin botfly Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus Jr, 1781), which lives in Central America. Flies don't feed. The female gadfly attaches eggs to the body of mosquitoes and flies. When these dipterans attack their victims, larvae hatch from the eggs of the gadfly and immediately penetrate the host’s skin.
• Gastric flies (Gasterophilidae Girschner, 1896). A typical representative is the horse gadfly (Gasterophilus intestinalis de Geer). A massive parasite of horses and donkeys. Distributed everywhere. The female lays eggs on the scalp and limbs of the host, as well as on its food plants. Hatched larvae actively or with food penetrate the digestive tract. Here they mature and pass out along with feces. The larvae, when actively moving, penetrate the skin and make passages in it, violating the integrity of the skin and causing severe itching. Parasitization of the larvae of gadflies in the stomach causes catarrhs.
• Subcutaneous gadflies (Hypodermatinae Rondani, 1856). The most famous and numerous species is the bovine gadfly (Hypoderma bovis Linnaeus). Distributed everywhere except the Far North. Parasite of cattle. The female attaches the eggs singly to the hair on the host's body. The hatched larvae penetrate the animal's body through the skin and migrate through the tissues, causing myiasis. Before molting in stage II, they emerge under the skin of the host’s back, forming nodules with holes (fistulas). Through the fistulas, air enters the spiracles of the larvae and they exit out. Cases of subcutaneous gadfly larvae penetrating the human brain with fatal consequences have been described.
• Nasopharyngeal gadflies (Oestrinae Leach, 1815). The most important are the cavitary gadfly (Oestrus ovis Linnaeus) and the Russian gadfly (Rhinoestrus purpureus Brauer). The first species parasitizes domestic sheep and goats, and the second species parasitizes horses and donkeys. Cavity botflies are viviparous insects. Females give birth to larvae, which are sprayed into the nostrils and eyes of animals or humans in flight. The larvae parasitize the eyelid, mucous membrane of the eye and nose, and inside the eyeball. When penetrating into the head, the larvae are localized in the nasal and frontal sinuses, the ethmoid bone, and the pharynx. Cavity flies are endoparasites and cause cavitary myiases.

How can a larva enter the body?

An adult gadfly is a fly whose size does not exceed 18 mm. It has a large head with large eyes located on it, a blue belly, orange-colored legs and transparent wings. Because of the hairs all over its body, the gadfly resembles a bumblebee.

An adult insect does not feed on anything throughout its short life, but uses the nutrients accumulated in the larval phase.

30 seconds after emergence, an adult gadfly becomes capable of flight and reproduction. One female can produce up to 700 eggs, but the larva emerges from only 1/5 of them.

The female catches mosquitoes, ticks and almost 40 species of other blood-sucking insects and lays eggs on their abdomens. At the moment when insects land on human skin, the larvae, sensing warmth, hatch from the eggs and move onto the skin, into which they are subsequently embedded. Penetration into the body is not accompanied by any painful sensations, and most often goes unnoticed by the person.

Mature larvae have special hooks on their bodies with which they are able to cling to the skin. Feeding on blood, the larvae grow, eventually reaching 1.5-2 cm. In total, the parasite lives in the host’s body from 5 to 10 weeks. After this period, they crawl to the surface of the skin and fall to the ground, where they pupate. After 2-4 weeks, an adult human gadfly emerges.

Is it possible to become infected with the botfly larva in Russia?

About 6 species of gadflies are common in Russia, and all of them prefer to choose cattle or horses as their host. However, occasionally there are cases where larvae are found in humans - in the eyes or under the skin.

Lifespan

Botflies are fully metamorphosed insects that go through the entire development cycle from the egg through the larval, pupa and adult phases. The life cycle lasts a whole year. Moreover, adult individuals do not have the opportunity to feed, but exist thanks to previously accumulated substances in the body in the larval stage.

How long gadflies live depends on the air temperature and how quickly the insect can accommodate its offspring. Females try to choose a suitable place on the victim’s skin, where there is less hair, attaching several eggs to each hair. On average, the lifespan of adults is 3-20 days.

To answer the question of where gadflies come from, it is necessary to consider all phases of insect development.

The life cycle consists of several periods and stages:

• Larvae of the 1st stage - develop inside the laid eggs for several days (the speed of development depends on the temperature), and then begin to penetrate the host’s body. Some gradually penetrate the blood vessels, then move to the spine and reach the adipose tissue along the spinal canal, while others move closer to the esophagus to settle in its mucosa.
• Larvae of the 2nd and 3rd stages migrate further to the back and lower back of the animal, here they form capsules of connective tissue. For subsequent development, they require access to oxygen from the atmosphere, so they make passages directly in the host’s skin, called fistulas. Subsequently, they molt; after the completion of the 3rd stage, the already mature larvae come out through holes and, leaving their capsules, fall to the ground, then pupation begins.
• Pupa is a phase that occurs within 1-7 days after the larvae fall out of the fistulas on the host’s skin; the rate of pupation and development of pupae depends on the temperature and humidity of the environment and lasts 33-44 days.
• The emergence of adult individuals (imagoes) from the pupae occurs in a few seconds, and the emerging fly is already ready for mating and can fly.

How is maggot infestation treated?

The disease caused by the larvae of the human gadfly has a name - dermotobiasis.

Diagnostics

To diagnose the disease, a blood test is used to determine the amount of antibodies. The patient will be asked whether he has been to places where the disease has spread. A visual examination is also used, during which a purulent abscess with a hole is found on the skin. The doctor examines the inflammation with a magnifying glass.

Advice: If you suspect the presence of botfly larvae in your body, it is recommended to contact an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist.

Drug treatment

Before removing the larvae, the use of the antiparasitic drug Ivermectin is indicated.

Removing the larva

Removal of gadfly larvae is carried out by first washing the affected area with disinfectants (potassium permanganate, furatsilin and others). The larva is blocked from accessing oxygen by dropping a small amount of sterile oil into the hole. After this, the parasite has no choice but to come to the surface. When it protrudes from the hole in the skin, it is grabbed with special tweezers or a clamp and gently pulled out.

Important! The operation should only be performed by a doctor. The larva is located in the deep layers of the epidermis, and there are hooks on its body, and if removed roughly or incorrectly, some parts of the parasite may remain under the skin, causing inflammation and suppuration.

After successful completion of the procedure, an antiseptic bandage is applied to the damaged area of ​​skin.

When traveling to countries with a tropical climate, you should take precautions: wear clothing that protects against insect bites and use repellents. If the bite of a blood-sucking insect could not be avoided, it is necessary to thoroughly treat the wound with a disinfectant, monitor its condition and, at the slightest deviation from the norm, consult a doctor.

The gadfly larva in humans is a parasitic phenomenon that causes significant disturbances in the functioning of the body. The most common consequences are: suppuration, tissue necrosis, inflammation of the skin, disruption of the life support system, and intoxication.

Treatment for a gadfly bite

If first aid was not enough, a clear allergy to a gadfly sting or a collateral infection manifested itself, qualified, comprehensive treatment is required. For children, people with weakened immune systems, and a tendency to allergic reactions, it is a must.

To avoid complications, treatment of a gadfly bite should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. It includes local and systemic therapy. It’s not enough to find something to anoint a gadfly’s bite; you need to neutralize the toxins that have entered the body. Therefore, there is no need to self-medicate - contact your local physician, dermatologist or allergist immediately.

The treatment tactics for a gadfly bite are as follows.

• Antihistamine therapy.
  If there is a history of allergic reactions, antihistamines already familiar to the patient are recommended. In case of severe swelling and asthmatic attacks, emergency therapy is carried out aimed at removing toxins from the body. The doctor may prescribe injections or droppers aimed at quickly relieving intoxication. In other cases, modern antihistamines are prescribed in tablet form. They block the action of allergens and toxins, providing a long-lasting protective effect.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs.
  Usually these are ointments for topical use with a pronounced anti-inflammatory and soothing effect. They are based on adrenal steroid hormones (glucocorticosteroids). Many are afraid of their hormonal nature and serious effects on the body due to their high penetrating ability. We recommend lotions based on the pharmaceutical drug Rivanol 0.1% as anti-inflammatory therapy. It is enough to moisten a cotton pad, apply it to the affected area for a few minutes or wipe the bite with it. This needs to be done several times a day.
• Surgical intervention.
  An allergy to a gadfly bite and ignoring first aid often leads to scratching of the wound and surrounding tissues. All this leads to the entry of a secondary infection. As a result, the scratches begin to fester, and in their place bubbles, bumps, and hardenings form. Along with this, body temperature rises. In such cases, surgical treatment of the gadfly bite is prescribed, followed by antibiotic therapy. The surgeon, under local anesthesia, incises the skin on the inflamed area and manually removes the discharge from the wound. An antiseptic bandage is applied and a course of antibiotics is prescribed.

A gadfly bite provokes not only swelling and itching. It can cause subsequent inflammatory diseases and provoke exacerbation of chronic ones. High-quality prevention will allow you to avoid negative consequences.

What do a gadfly and its larvae look like?

Gadflies live in almost every corner of the planet; in total there are more than 150 species of insects. In our country, 60 varieties are registered. Usually, gadflies lay their larvae in the body of animals, less often they get under the skin of a person. Dermatobia Hominis - the “human gadfly” lives in the tropics (Mexico, South America, Argentina). In the temperate climate of Russia, Ukraine and the countries of the former USSR, the insect has not been observed.

The adult is a special species of fly measuring up to 20 mm. Dermatobia Hominis looks like a small bumblebee: a shaggy body and a bright orange color. The gadfly has a rather large head with pronounced large eyes, a blue abdomen, and small transparent wings.

Insects living in our latitudes usually have a calmer color: dark brown or coal-black, gray-blue. They prefer livestock as a host, but it happens that when they bite, they also infect humans.

The adult does not feed; the supply of nutrients obtained during the larval development stage is enough for the entire life cycle.

The larva after birth is very small. During the phase, it grows several times, reaching 2 cm. Its body has an oblong teardrop shape. Special hook hairs allow it to attach to the skin of animals or humans.

One adult female can reproduce up to 650 eggs, but only 20% are viable.

A species of dangerous gadfly that lives in southern countries.

Mating and flight

Mating occurs almost immediately after it emerges from the pupa. Scientists note that during this period, males live every year in the same place where they fly to mate. Next, fertilized females begin to actively search for future owners to breed offspring.

The laying method depends on the type of female insect:

• The line usually flies around a herd of animals, making characteristic sounds that frighten them. Having chosen a host, she lays one egg on each hair;
• The female esophagus has a different strategy: she sneaks up on the prey unnoticed, making short flights or crawling, then quickly lays 5-20 eggs per hair.

The number of eggs in the female’s abdomen can reach 700, each of which will subsequently hatch into a larva that will gnaw on its prey. Thanks to such high fertility, insects reproduce well even with a minimum number of adult individuals and their short lifespan. They have few enemies: among those who eat gadflies and other flies. and bugs - only birds.

The period of flight and mating of gadflies occurs depending on the climatic zone of habitat: in the southern regions it is longer, in the northern regions it is shorter.

How does a gadfly larva enter the human body?

The gadfly larva can enter the human body in several ways:

1. The female lays eggs on the abdomen of blood-sucking insects (mosquitoes, ticks). When a person is bitten by intermediary insects, the eggs land on the person's body. When warmed up, they burst and larvae emerge from them, which get under the skin. The introduction of parasites is practically not noticeable.
2. When a human is bitten directly by the female gadfly itself, the larvae enter the wound, after which they fully develop as parasites in the person.
3. Hypodermatosis is a disease associated with these parasites. In this case, the larva is acquired tactilely from cattle. It is the countryside and farms in our latitudes that can be considered a potential site of infection. Parasites get under the skin, and they can move along the body, leaving characteristic traces. The larvae usually penetrate the body in areas where the skin is more delicate, for example, on the head, arms and legs, abdomen, neck, and less often they can concentrate on the lips and in the eye.
4. Eggs and larvae can also enter internal organs. This occurs when eating animal meat contaminated with gadfly. The gastric parasite is much more dangerous than the subcutaneous larva of the gadfly, since its parasitism can lead to serious disruptions in the functioning of the body.

Differences in reproduction

The most striking meaning by which one can answer how a gadfly differs from a horsefly is the peculiarity of their reproduction. Gadflies prefer to lay their eggs in the body of a mammal, less often a human.

Different species of these bloodsuckers find different ways to introduce larvae into the host's body. There are the following methods:

1. The female lays eggs on grass, which the animal consumes as food.
2. Viviparous gadflies. The female immediately lays the larva on the part of the body that the animal most often scratches and licks. Further development of the individual occurs in the stomach of the host.
3. Introduction under the skin. The most popular method of reproduction. The female gadfly chooses a place on the body of cattle so that it cannot reach it and lays eggs under the skin.

The main difference in how gadflies and horseflies reproduce is the location of egg laying. Horseflies do not burrow their larvae under the skin or inside humans or animals. They lay eggs in grass or soil. The female horsefly chooses darkened areas near ponds and rivers as a place for laying.

Among the similarities, one can note the identical stages of development of individuals:

1. Egg.
2. Larva.
3. Doll.
4. Adult.

When considering the question of how long gadflies and horseflies live, it is necessary to start from their stage of development.

• The gadfly spends most of its life in the larval stage. The full life cycle is 28 days. It takes a year before the adult individual fully emerges.
• Horseflies live somewhat longer. The adult is limited to the warm period of the year, while there is free access to food. At less mature stages of development, horseflies live for several years before reaching full maturity.

Stages of larval development

The larval stage of the gadfly usually lasts 6-10 weeks. After entering the host’s body, the parasite begins to intensively feed on blood, drawing out useful substances. In a few weeks it increases in size tens of times, and the mature larva reaches 2 cm.

The photo shows a small gadfly larva extracted from a human body.

Having collected the necessary supply of nutrients from the host, the parasite breaks through the skin and crawls out. After this, a new stage of development of the gadfly begins - the pupa. In this phase, the insect arrives for 2-4 weeks, after which it turns into an adult, the life cycle of which is 20 days, the main task of the fly is reproduction.

Damage to livestock

The breeding cycle of the bull gadfly begins around June and ends in September. At this time, fertilized females are especially active, searching for a potential victim.

As a parasite in the body of cattle, the subcutaneous gadfly often becomes the cause of the development of a very dangerous disease - hypodermatosis. This disease occurs after a long stay of the parasite in the body of its carrier, about 7 months. During this time, the larvae of the subcutaneous gadfly manage to seriously injure the organs and tissues, as well as the skin of the animal.

On a note! Gadfly larvae secrete a special toxic substance – hypodermotoxin. Together with the meat and milk of an infected animal, it can enter the human body, causing a negative impact on health!

Fistulas indicating the presence of hypodermatosis can be found on the body of animals from the last month of winter to mid-summer. At the same time, the larvae can exist in their capsules for quite a long time - about 1-3 months. After emerging, they fall to the ground, usually in manure, where they turn into pupae.

On a note! Moreover, even insects that have pupated pose a danger - just 10 larvae, which are in the third stage of their development, can infect about 40% of the livestock population!

Symptoms of the appearance of gadfly larvae in humans

Parasites penetrate into any part of the body, their penetration at the initial stage is not noticeable at all. After 1-2 weeks, the site of penetration swells, turns red, and looks like a mosquito bite.

After another couple of weeks, the skin becomes blue, swelling appears with suppuration in the center, like the stem of an acne. The abscess bursts and the open wound allows the parasite to gain access to air.

The general health of a person infected with gadfly larvae worsens: nausea and dizziness, weakness, fever, and burning in the affected area appear.

If the larva is in the eye, tearing, redness, increased eye pressure, and less often bleeding are observed.

Less commonly, a focus of development is observed in the nasal cavity, as evidenced by pain, headaches, and swelling.

What symptoms does the parasite cause?

The larva can penetrate any part of the human body: arms, legs, chest, head. However, she most often chooses the legs, back and armpits. Sometimes the larvae settle in the eyes and nose.

If gadfly larvae enter a person’s body, then at first no signs can be noticed. At the site of penetration of the parasite, a swelling first forms, which is difficult to distinguish from a mosquito bite.

After some time, the area of ​​skin becomes inflamed, painful, and swelling of a bluish or reddish tint appears. An abscess forms, which opens up after some time. Thanks to this, a hole remains in the skin, providing the larva with an air flow. When the abscess is opened, pus is released from the wound.

Bodfly larvae in the human body cause deterioration in health: vomiting, dizziness, muscle pain and fever. At the site of inflammation, movement under the skin may be felt.

If parasites get into the eyes, then, as they move, they constantly irritate the mucous membrane, eye pressure increases, lacrimation appears, and there may be bleeding and pain.

Important! Larvae that are not detected in time can penetrate the vitreous body or the anterior chamber of the eyeball, and this is fraught with partial or complete loss of vision.

If it gets into the nose, a headache develops, the sense of smell deteriorates, a painful sensation appears in the nose, and swelling of the nose and mucous membranes forms. The larvae can even come out through the nostrils.

What harm do gadfly larvae cause to humans?

Undoubtedly, gadfly larvae cause serious harm to the human body. The degree of impact directly depends on the location of the parasites. Skin larvae disrupt the general state of health, the functioning of organs, and poison the body with waste products.

The most dangerous are cavity parasites that concentrate in the internal organs: stomach, intestines, ENT organs.

Complete blindness is threatened by the larva of the gadfly, deposited in the human eye.

It is very important to eliminate the pest at an early stage of development to minimize complications.

Myiasis - what is it, types of diseases

The larvae of some types of flies that penetrate the skin of people and animals cause a dangerous disease - myiasis. It is characterized by the destruction of tissues and cavities of human internal organs and is accompanied by concomitant diseases and infections. In people, the reason for their appearance is non-compliance with hygiene rules, their own negligence and carelessness.

Important: fly larvae are extremely tenacious; some are capable of not only remaining alive for a long time in alcohol or formaldehyde, but also developing successfully. This property helps them survive in the hostile environment of the human intestine.

There are three types of myiasis infection. They depend on the type of parasite and the method of infection.

1. In case of accidental infection, the causative agent is the larvae of flies found in rotting organic matter and clothing, linen, and food. They enter the human body through dirty hands, underwear, and with food.
2. Obligate - caused by larvae of flies that lead a parasitic lifestyle and reproduction, most often leading to skin myiases.
3. Facultative - a method in which flies, house flies or blow flies, lay eggs in damaged human tissue.

This is important: the causative agents of myiasis are only 18 species of flies living in tropical countries of the Southern Hemisphere and several species living in the European part of the globe.

How to remove a botfly larva from under the skin?

Removal of the larva can be carried out in two ways:

The main task of any method is the safe removal of the foreign body. The removal operation is performed under sterile conditions. The affected area is treated with an antiseptic (iodine, potassium permanganate). A drop of sterile oil will help block air access to the larva. Once in unfavorable conditions, it will begin to crawl out of the body on its own. The parasite is pulled out using tweezers or a special clamp.

The larva crawls out from under the skin in the leg.

After removal, the wound is treated and then bandaged with a sterile cloth.

The operation must be carried out by a specialist, since if you extract it yourself, parts of the parasite may remain under the skin, which will cause inflammation and suppuration of the wound.

The safest extraction is to allow the larva to leave the host’s body on its own. To do this, use ointments, creams and oils to remove parasites.

Extracted larva and skin damage.

A course of drug treatment will allow you to provoke the release of a foreign object, affecting it through its source of nutrition - blood. Such drugs contain substances that are toxic to the parasitic organism.

How can you help a patient?

First, surgical treatment is performed. Then the patient is prescribed a course of antiparasitic medications with an antibacterial effect.

The duration of treatment depends on the degree of damage to the body. If there are a lot of larvae, then therapy lasts longer.

If a suspicious swelling is detected, proceed as follows:

1. Rinse the problem area. The water should be cool. The use of any antibacterial soap is allowed. To ensure your safety, it is better to use baby soap.
2. Apply a cool compress. This will help relieve itching and get rid of swelling. The compress can be soda or salt. 1 tsp dissolves in ½ glass of boiled water.
3. You can disinfect the affected area by lubricating it with vodka, medical alcohol, or regular cologne.
4. If the resulting lump is very itchy, you can take any antihistamine. The best medicines are Suprastin, Zodak, Tavegil. If there is a choice, then preference should be given to Suprastin, because Tavegil causes drowsiness.

How to protect yourself from gadfly larvae?

To avoid infection with gadfly larvae, you must follow simple rules:

• When traveling to southern countries where insects dangerous to humans live, you must take special insecticidal agents that repel flies (sprays, ointments, creams).
• Protective clothing and mosquito nets will help avoid contact with flies.
• Avoid contact with insects in nature and in other places where gadflies gather, for example, on a farm or in a village.

The larva of a gadfly can cause quite a few health problems if you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner. It is important to know that at the first symptoms, an examination and consultation with a doctor is necessary. Independent actions in this case are unacceptable.

• Author: Maria Sukhorukikh
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Establishing a diagnosis

If a person suspects he is infected, he should seek help from a good parasitologist or infectious disease specialist.

The doctor sends the patient for a blood test, which determines the amount of antibodies. The specialist undertakes to find out from his client whether he has been to African countries or other places where the terrible gadfly lives.

A visual inspection is required. If infection occurs, an abscess with a fairly large hole forms on the cover.

Inspection is carried out using a special magnifying glass.

Where is it found?

This species lives in North and South America, Costa Rica, southeastern Mexico, northern Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Some cases of the botfly bite have been reported in Europe.

Since the maggots take 8 weeks to develop, unless the wound becomes infected, patients rarely experience infections unless they kill the maggot and remove it completely.

Heartworm

The disease can be compared to a time bomb. Subcutaneous parasites are carried by cats and dogs, and mosquitoes carry parasite eggs. The female parasite reaches a size of 30 cm, males grow up to 10 cm in length. The development of the larvae takes place under human skin. Initially, the mosquito damages the skin and leaves parasite eggs. Within a few hours, a larva emerges from the egg. Penetrates under the skin through a wound from a mosquito bite. Parasites go through their entire development cycle under the skin. They feed, grow, and increase in size. All this is accompanied by skin damage and itching. In places where the subcutaneous parasite is located, a compaction forms. The larva moves inside, which the patient feels. The danger of the disease lies in the fact that the subcutaneous parasite also affects the organs of vision. In some cases, this leads to sudden blindness. Treatment is carried out surgically. Subcutaneous parasites are removed, medications are prescribed to restore the skin and resume the activity of the affected organ.