How the botfly larva gets under the skin

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

Larvae of subcutaneous gadflies

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.

But it should be noted that there are practically no deaths from the larvae of the cavitary gadfly getting into human eyes. The fact is that at the moment of splashing out, the larva has such clinging qualities that once it gets on the eyelid or in the eye, it is simply impossible to remove it yourself. A person is forced to see a doctor and a medical operation is immediately prescribed. It is only possible to remove the larva from the eye surgically, and after this, vision of course suffers. But the person remains alive, and this is the most important thing.

The gadfly fly, it would seem that this fly has nothing to eat and bite, it cannot even sting, but nevertheless this fly is dangerous not only for animals. People can also suffer from these flies, and there are also human gadflies that only attack people, where do they live? Find out by watching the video. Perhaps, having learned where human gadflies live, you will breathe easy, but other gadflies can also be dangerous for people.

What kind of flies are they and why are they dangerous to people? - you might ask. So, who doesn’t know, gadflies lay their eggs on animals, then the hatched larvae of the gadflies eat into the flesh of the animal and live in it, feeding on its flesh. There are three types of gadflies: subcutaneous, gastric and cavitary - and cavitary gadflies are viviparous, and shoot their larvae directly into the mouth, nose and eyes of the animal, but they can also shoot at a person if he is nearby. Gadflies also lay their eggs on other flies, and flies can land on your head and thus leave behind an already hatched larva or a gadfly egg, and the larva will no longer be in the animal, but in your body. It would be interesting to learn more about how all this happens?

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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.

Symptoms and consequences of a gadfly bite

Only one species of gadfly, Dermatobia hominis, which lives in the forests of Central America, uses humans as a “reservoir” for rearing larvae. After a bite, a disease called dermatobiasis develops, manifested in local inflammation, suppuration and the development of general intoxication phenomena. A bite from a human gadfly is rarely fatal. One case of death of a one and a half year old child with multiple infestations, that is, with the penetration of a large number of larvae under the skin, was registered.

More often, the death of children is associated with brain damage when the larvae penetrate inside the skull. In this case, symptoms such as swelling of the upper body, inflammation of the lymph nodes, and headache associated with increased intracranial pressure are observed. Fortunately, such a complication develops extremely rarely after a Dermatobia hominis bite.

In Russia, people become victims of gadflies extremely rarely: such cases occur sporadically, since all species living in our country parasitize farm and wild animals

However, females still lay eggs under the skin of people, so it is important to know the symptoms of infection in order to consult a parasitologist or dermatologist in time

The larva can appear on any part of the human body, but most often the eggs are laid on the legs, back or armpits. Very rarely, larvae are found in the eyes.

There are no symptoms of infection after a bite. It is almost impossible to feel that a female gadfly has landed on the skin due to the soft legs of the insect, covered with hairs. At the moment of the bite, a burning pain is felt, which quickly passes.

At the site where the eggs were implanted, you may notice a slight swelling, which is practically no different from a mosquito bite. After a few days, inflammation forms at the site of the swelling. It becomes painful, swells, an abscess forms, which after some time opens with the release of pus. This creates a hole through which the growing larva receives the oxygen it needs to breathe. Movement may be felt in the area of inflammation.

In addition to local manifestations, symptoms of general intoxication are noted:

nausea and vomiting;
feeling tired, increased fatigue;
drowsiness;
increased body temperature;
pain in muscles and joints.

If the larva is in the eye area, when moving it will constantly irritate the mucous membrane, which will cause pain and discomfort. Intraocular pressure increases. Increased sensitivity to light appears, and lacrimation may occur. If the larva is not detected in time, it may end up in the vitreous body or in the anterior chamber of the eyeball, as a result of which the person may lose the organ of vision.

In rare cases, the larva may end up in the nasal cavity. In this case, the following symptoms are observed:

headache;
decreased sense of smell;
swelling of the nasal mucosa, making breathing difficult.

If the larvae are detected in a timely manner, they are removed surgically. If removed quickly, infection does not pose a danger to the body. However, if you do not get rid of the larva in time, a secondary infection may develop, which can result in a life-threatening complication such as sepsis. Another complication of infection is an allergic reaction, which can vary in severity: from urticaria to anaphylactic shock.

If you suspect an infestation with gadfly larvae, you should consult a doctor. Under no circumstances should you remove the larva yourself. This is due to the fact that in many species the larva has numerous hooks for better fixation in the tissues, which can remain in the wound and cause suppuration.

Gadfly larvae are removed under local anesthesia. The doctor carefully grabs the larva with tweezers and pulls it out. After this, a bandage with an antiseptic is applied to the wound.

The following recommendations will help you avoid a gadfly bite:

when going into nature, you should not wear bright clothes: they attract not only gadflies, but also blood-sucking insects, for example, horse flies; It is important that while walking outside the city, your arms and body are covered with clothes; in places where gadflies can be found (near farms, pastures, watering places), perfumes should not be used; It is advisable to cover the stroller with a special canopy; In nature, it is imperative to use repellents; Gadflies are attracted to the smells of feces and rotting. Therefore, toilets and cesspools should be installed as far as possible from the home or tourist stop; Gadflies are repelled by the smells of cloves, mint and citrus fruits: to prevent insects from entering the room, you can use aromatic oils

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.

Treatment measures

Therapy against myiasis is prescribed depending on the area of localization of the parasite in the body:

Skin form - antiseptic treatment of exposed areas is carried out, abscesses and boils are opened surgically to remove the parasitic larva. The passages in the skin are removed using vegetable oil or Vaseline. Lubricated skin prevents air from penetrating inside, which causes insects to need to drill out on their own. In this case, the larvae are removed using tweezers.
Intestinal form - antiparasitic therapy is prescribed using drugs intended to combat worms. If the stomach is damaged, it becomes necessary to carry out multiple lavage procedures.
Urogenital form - requires the use of weak solutions of Furacilin or potassium permanganate. The resulting solution is used to rinse the affected areas. The doctor must prescribe auxiliary therapy in the form of medications taken orally.
Ocular form - removal of the larvae is carried out under anesthesia. After the procedure, the eyes are washed with a weak solution of baking soda.

In case of massive destruction of soft tissues, surgical methods of treatment are mandatory. Secondary infection also requires quite serious measures. Antibiotics are prescribed only in case of development of purulent processes.

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.

Classification of myiasis by type

The classification of myiases is carried out depending on which organ of the human body is affected by the parasite. There are such types of diseases: subcutaneous, strip, intestinal, ophthalmic, genitourinary, African. The development of the disease occurs very quickly, so timely treatment is necessary.

Cutaneous (tissue) myiasis

The most common type of disease, in appearance it resembles furunculosis. Accompanied by discomfort from itching, burning and pain in the affected areas of the skin. It can be epidermal - located in the upper layers of the skin and subcutaneous.

In the first case, the parasites do not leave the epidermis. When subcutaneous, it can affect the soft tissues of the body, which can lead to the destruction of entire parts of it. This form of the disease is difficult to treat and can be fatal.

Oral, ear, nasal

With this type of infestation, fly larvae penetrate into the soft parts of various parts of the body and destroy them. The oral cavity and its soft parts are most often affected. Against the background of chronic ear diseases, stripe myiasis of the auditory canal may occur.

The larvae destroy the eardrums and reach the brain, which leads to encephalitis and death of the patient. Infection occurs during sleep or through contaminated underwear.

Intestinal

Fly eggs enter the gastrointestinal tract along with food: vegetables and meat, even heat-treated meat. It could even be ready-made dishes that have been infected by a fly. Parasites do not die in the human stomach, but spread throughout the entire digestive tract.

The patient experiences attacks of nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain. In some cases, larvae can be seen in vomit and feces. In advanced stages, internal bleeding occurs.

This is important: occasional intestinal myiasis can be caused by the larvae of common houseflies, houseflies, green and blue blowflies.

Ocular myiasis

Fly larvae infect the conjunctival sac, make passages in the walls of the eyeball, tear ducts, destroying the eye. In this situation, passive infection of humans can occur. The patient's visual acuity decreases and his vision worsens.

In an advanced state, there may be blindness and loss of an eye. The disease is treated with surgery and antibiotics.

Urogenital

Fly eggs enter the human body through contaminated linen or household items. They cause diseases of the genitourinary system. The larvae infect the internal and external genital organs and the urinary tract.

This leads to serious complications, inflammatory and purulent processes. There is itching in the genital area, pain when urinating. The disease can lead to malignancy.

This is interesting: the cause of the disease is the mangrove fly that lives in the Congo Nature Reserve. She lays eggs even on vertical surfaces. Many tourists who are not familiar with this fact can get sick if they hang wet laundry on a line. Locals practice drying clothes in a horizontal position.

African

The larvae of the fly Cardylobia authropophaga, once on human skin, penetrate the body and cause African myiasis. The peculiarity of this fly is that it lays eggs in sand or soil watered with urine. The emerging larvae cling and bite into the skin of animals and people who walk barefoot or sunbathe on the sand.

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.

Gadfly harm

The gadfly poses the greatest danger, of course, to livestock. Once inside the animal's body, insect eggs very soon turn into voracious larvae, which simply eat up their “home” from the inside.

They absorb nutrients in excessive quantities, storing them for future use, causing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and sometimes the death of the animal. In addition, as they grow and strive to “exit,” the larvae of some species of gadflies gnaw holes in the skin. Thus causing pain and making the skin of livestock unusable on the farm.

Scientists have long proven that cows exposed to constant attacks by gadflies produce significantly less milk than their luckier “comrades.” Annoying insects irritate animals, cause them tension and prevent them from eating normally - hence the low milk yield.

And gadfly bites can cause harm not only to cows, but also to humans.

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.

Varieties of gadflies

Gadflies differ in the type of animal on which they lay eggs and in the place where the eggs are laid.

Subcutaneous gadfly

This species (Hypoderma bovis) is also called the striped or bovine gadfly, because the female lays eggs on the fur of the limbs of cattle (cows, bulls, etc.). After emerging from the shell, the larva easily bites through the skin in such a place and moves to the tissues of the esophagus, then the back, resulting in the creation of large sores on the animal’s body. Through such nodules, air enters the spiracles of the larvae, and they find food by drawing substances from the surrounding tissues.

After maturation, the larvae of the striped gadfly fall down from the nodules and pupate on the ground in order to turn into an adult fly after a certain time. All these actions cause pain and anguish for their victim, who leaves holes in the hide, causing it to become worthless.

Gastric gadfly

The gadfly (photo below) lays eggs on the fur of the animal's head, legs, or on plants intended for food. After maturation, the larvae begin to actively feed, moving along the digestive tract, from which they are then excreted along with excrement.

Many Russians have encountered these large flies that live in damp rural areas, but few people know that horseflies and gadflies can be deadly to humans.

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.

How is diagnosis made?

The main method is to take a blood test. It determines the amount of antibodies. The patient is also asked a number of questions. For example, they ask whether he has been to places where the disease is common. In addition to all this, the specialist conducts a visual inspection. Using this method, you can detect an inflamed purulent abscess. It has a hole through which air flows. The doctor examines the area using a special device, namely a magnifying glass.

If you are absolutely sure that there are gadfly larvae in the body, then you should not contact a therapist, but immediately an infectious disease specialist.

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.

Prevention of infection

But most often the gadfly larva penetrates the human skin in countries with a tropical climate. And if you decide to go there, then follow a few simple rules. Places where large numbers of insects live should be avoided. Of course, you need to wear clothing that will protect you from bites. Nowadays there is a huge selection of good repellents in stores. These should also be used.

If, for example, an insect bites you, you should not panic ahead of time, but you should not forget about it either. First, you should treat the wound with a disinfectant. And watch her. If something goes wrong, you must immediately contact a specialist. The doctor will examine you, if the diagnosis is confirmed, he will send you for the appropriate procedures, and if the opposite is true, you can safely return home. And don’t forget that vigilance never hurt anyone.

It is dangerous because it bites almost imperceptibly, quickly depositing larvae under the skin, which immediately begin to develop, which leads to various inflammations. In general, an unpleasant situation. The worst thing is when they penetrate the eyes or head of a person, then complex surgery is required to remove them.

There are also deer, horse, sheep, gastric, nasopharyngeal and other gadflies. Each species chooses certain mammals for itself. In addition, some insects prefer to lay larvae on the back and sides of animals, others prefer the groin and the inside of the legs, and still others choose the nostrils, ears and lips of unfortunate victims.

Botflies appear to be slightly smaller than horse flies. They have large compound eyes, a fluffy body and transparent wings. Unlike the latter, they do not drink blood and bite solely to lay eggs. Although not all types of gadflies resort to bites. For example, some females carefully attach eggs to the hairs of the victim, others may leave them on the grass in the hope that sooner or later the cattle will swallow them along with their food.

And there are completely original subjects - you don’t even need to look for animals. They simply fly to where there are a lot of mosquitoes, find a suitable specimen, embrace it in a friendly hug and carefully leave their egg on its back. A mosquito (or, more precisely, a mosquito) serves as an excellent vehicle that will deliver the larva to its destination on time.

This is where the fun begins. Or rather, the most unpleasant thing for livestock. As a rule, the larva emerges from the egg within 3-7 days. Moreover, hot weather of about 30-32 degrees is considered optimal for its development. Without wasting any time, the insidious invader penetrates the body of the poor fellow-owner. It is not known exactly where it goes, but the animal suffers greatly from this and loses weight.

For further growth, the larvae need oxygen, so they form fistulous openings in the skin. Through them they then get out, where they fall to the ground and pupate. Adults emerge from the pupae literally in 2-3 seconds, and after a minute they can already fly and mate. In total, the larval development cycle lasts about a year.

Adult gadflies have no need to eat: they live off the nutrients that they accumulated in the larval stage. True, such a reserve does not last long - according to various sources, adults live from three to twenty days. It is curious that their lifespan depends on the weather: if the days are clear and hot, the gadflies quickly find their mate and lay eggs. If the days are stormy, they can sit in the grass for several days, waiting for the right moment. At the same time, all processes in their body slow down, which can significantly reduce energy costs.

Female gadflies are very fertile - one such lady can lay up to five thousand eggs. Of course, every expectant mother tries to protect her offspring and “distribute” the children to different “kindergartens”, because if they are all placed on one animal, it may simply die, and this cannot be allowed. Interestingly, the unfortunate victims always feel the approach of gadflies. They begin to shake their heads, beat their tails, or try to get away from a dangerous place. How they differentiate them from simple flies remains a mystery.

The cutaneous human botfly is common only in tropical countries; it is not found in Russia, but cases of dermatobiasis, which is caused by insect larvae, can be diagnosed in people arriving from exotic places. The disease causes a number of unpleasant symptoms and requires surgical treatment.

The life cycle of a gadfly is only a few weeks, this is due to the peculiarities of its nutrition. Botflies reproduce quickly, the female lays several hundred eggs at a time, most often animals become the host of the larvae, but sometimes infestation also occurs in humans.

How does a gadfly larva enter the human body?

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

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.
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.
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.
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.

What types of gadflies exist?

There are a huge number of types of this parasite. Experts agreed to subdivide them according to their habitat. Each type of larvae has its own characteristics. Some of them are dangerous for the owner and his body. There are 4 types of parasites: subcutaneous and cutaneous, cavitary and gastric.

The first type is dangerous for both humans and animals. If treatment is not timely, disastrous consequences can occur.

The second type is characteristic of the bull gadfly. It is, of course, not dangerous like the first type, but still, if this happens, boils form on the body of a person or animal. In addition, severe pain appears. Pus may then be released.

The cavity type is most common in goats. The larvae are first found in the nostril, and then penetrate the respiratory tract.

Gastric botfly most often occurs in horses. It develops in their stomach, and then moves to the tongue and gums. Pustules form there.

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.

About maggots

We most often suffer from flies in the summer, in August and July. They begin to multiply.

About the appearance of an insect

Fly development:

Eggs. These insects are prolific. A fly can lay up to 150 eggs at once. Flies hide them where there is a lot of garbage and manure, and it is humid. But the female can choose another place for them: kitchen waste, meat and fish, rotten vegetables.
Larvae. After 8 hours or a day, a larva hatches from the egg, the same maggot. She remains in this environment and eats spoiled food. In the larval stage, the insect lives from 5 days to 2 weeks.
Doll. The maggot matures and the larvae begin to pupate. This takes 3 or 4 weeks. First, the insect moves to a dry place where it becomes a pupa.
Fly. Their pupae are hatched by a fly that lives for only a month. But even during this time, one insect (female) lays from 500 to 2 thousand eggs. And the process of development of the fly begins again.

Why are fly larvae dangerous?

Why is it so important to fight fly larvae, why are they dangerous? These insects are carriers of pathogens of many intestinal diseases. But that's not all

If you buy meat and fish at the market, where they are not stored in the freezer, green flies will lay eggs in them. Larvae emerge from them. If you eat 1̶ 2 maggots along with these products, nothing bad will happen, although it is unpleasant. They will leave the body.

As soon as you leave fresh meat unattended, flies immediately “sprinkle” it

But if a person has swallowed a lot of insects, then his health will deteriorate sharply: his stomach will hurt, he will feel sick, vomiting, diarrhea will appear, and he will suffer from itching. Doctors advise taking a saline laxative immediately. Maggots are not that dangerous for humans. But those who vacation in Brazil, Mexico, Africa should be afraid of local flies; their larvae live in the human body and eat it. Therefore, in the tropics you cannot run barefoot, dry clothes under trees, and you must constantly use repellents.

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 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.

What harm is done to the body

The degree of adverse effects depends on where exactly the insects that have entered the body are located. There is a violation of the general state of health. Dysfunction of all vital organs occurs. Against the background of poisoning of the body with waste products of the larvae, the development of powerful intoxication is observed.

The greatest danger is posed by larvae that are localized in:

intestines;
ENT organs;
eyes;
stomach.

It’s worse if the pest gets into the anterior chamber of the eyeball. As a result, the person partially loses his vision. In the worst cases, complete blindness develops.

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 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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Insect extermination

How to get rid of larvae? Those insects that have already settled in the house, in the basement, must be destroyed. To avoid re-infection, do not forget about preventive measures. Let's look at several ways to help remove maggots and get rid of them.

Boiling water

You don’t want to be poisoned by chemicals, but you need to kill maggots that are crawling around the house? Use boiling water. First, boil water in a large bowl. Treat the bucket in which you store garbage with this boiling water to kill eggs or larvae of flies. Before that, take out the trash. As a preventive measure, pour a little vinegar into the water so that the bucket no longer attracts flies. They don't like the smell of vinegar.

Maggots also appear in sewer pipes if there are pieces of rotting food left there. To destroy them, pour boiling water down the sink. You can pour water with vinegar. Scald your sink and bucket with boiling water every 7 days to prevent insects.

The disinfectant effect of boiling water is enhanced by adding a 2% solution of baking soda or soap

Removing larvae from the kitchen and rug

You didn’t have time to process the trash can in time, and maggots spread throughout the kitchen. How to get rid of them? Buy an insecticide containing carbamate, permethrin, cypermethrin. The safest product that may contain one of these substances is shampoo used for animals. But before you buy the drug, study its composition. Once you have purchased the insecticide, dilute it in water in a 2:1 ratio (water and poison). Pour the resulting solution into a spray bottle and spray the kitchen surface with it. All that remains is to collect the larvae and throw away the garbage. After treatment, wipe the kitchen surface with an antibacterial agent, and then rinse everything thoroughly using warm water.

To remove larvae from carpets, buy or borrow a carpet steam cleaner. Then go to the store for the insecticide solution they sell for your steam cleaner. Before using the poison, read the instructions. Make sure it is not harmful to humans or pets. Mix insecticide and hot water and pour into steam cleaner. Treat the carpet at least 2 times to destroy all parasites.

Destruction of larvae on the street

Often maggots start on the street: in liquid waste, cesspools, etc. If you do not want to suffer from an infestation of flies, you need to fight their larvae. The universal method is to remove garbage and waste, but in private homes this is not always possible. Therefore, constant treatment of garbage heaps with larvicides is required. It starts in May, and for those who live in the south, even earlier. You will treat the garbage piles with solutions or emulsions that form a film on their surface. The larva will emerge from the depths to the surface and die after contact with the insecticide.

Timely garbage removal is mandatory for comfortable and safe living.

Means to destroy fly larvae:

Aqueous emulsion of dicresyl (0.3-0.5%) or trichlorvos (0.2%);
Karbofos solution (1%) or an aqueous solution of chlorophos (2%);
Aqueous emulsion of dichlorvos (0.5%).

For processing, use only fresh solutions, just prepared. To make them, the products are dissolved in water at room temperature and the area where larvae accumulate is treated with the solution 2 to 5 times a month. The hotter the summer, the more larvae will appear, so the number of treatments is increased. For one square meter you will need from 0.2 to 1 liter of solution.