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Case Reports
. 2006 Spring;14(1):31-2.
doi: 10.1177/229255030601400105.

Cutaneous furuncular myiasis: Human infestation by the botfly

Bryan Jacobs  1 , David L Brown
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cutaneous furuncular myiasis: Human infestation by the botfly

Bryan Jacobs et al. Can J Plast Surg. 2006 Spring.

Abstract
in English, French

Dermatobia hominis, the botfly, is indigenous to Central and South America. Its usual host is a mammal, often a horse or cow. Cutaneous furuncular myiasis, human infestation by the botfly, has rarely been reported. Symptoms of infestation include a locally painful, firm furuncular lesion, often with a centrally located pore. Due to their infrequent occurrence, these lesions are often misdiagnosed as cellulitis, leishmaniasis, furunculosis, staphylococcal boil, insect bite or sebaceous cyst - conditions with similar presentations. The present case reiterates the need to think of 'zebras' when hearing 'hoof beats' that may have originated in a different land.

Le Dermatobia hominis, ou hypoderme, est indigène à l’Amérique centrale et à l’Amérique du Sud. Son hôte habituel est un mammifère, souvent un cheval ou une vache. La myiase furonculeuse cutanée, une infestation humaine par l’hypoderme, a rarement été déclarée. Les symptômes d’infestation incluent une lésion furonculeuse ferme et douloureuse, souvent accompagnée d’un pore central. En raison de leur occurrence peu fréquente, ces lésions sont souvent mal diagnostiquées comme une cellulite, une leishmaniose, une furonculose, un furoncle à staphylocoque, une piqûre d’insecte ou un kyste sébacé, des problèmes aux manifestations similaires. Le présent cas rappelle le besoin de garder l’esprit ouvert en présence d’une infestation qui a pu trouver son origine sur un autre territoire.

Keywords: Botfly; Furuncular myiasis; Sebaceous cyst.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Body of the deceased botfly larva removed from the posterior scalp of the patient
Figure 2)
Figure 2)
Hematoxylin and eosin-stained photomicrograph section revealing the presence of a chitinous spine on the surface of the botfly larva. An internal layer of muscle is also identifiable, and is characteristic of the botfly (original magnification ×20)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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