[Clinical and parasitological observations on a case of disseminated furuncular myiasis caused by Cordylobia rodhaini in a man in Ethiopia]

Abstract

A severe case of myiasis is reported in an Italian technician working in a forest yard in Illubabor (Ethiopia). The patient returned to Italy with fever, malaise and scattered skin lesions: these were papular at first, and later developed into furuncle-like, intensely burning boils which spread all over the body. Neutrophilic leukocytosis was present associated with increased IgA. From the lesions, 150 larvae were recovered and identified as Cordylobia rodhaini Gedoelst (Diptera, Calliphoridae), a myiasis agent adapted to various thin-skinned mammals in African forests, rarely observed in man. This is the first case recorded in Ethiopia and represents the most massive invasion by Cordylobia spp. published so far. The 3rd stage larva is described with some morphological details not reported by previous authors.