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Case Reports
. 2009 Sep;2(3):130-2.
doi: 10.4103/0974-620X.57313.

Vidi, vini, vinci: External ophthalmomyiasis infection that occurred, and was diagnosed and treated in a single day: A rare case report

Kamlesh Thakur  1 , Gagandeep Singh, Smriti Chauhan, Anuradha Sood
Affiliations
Case Reports

Vidi, vini, vinci: External ophthalmomyiasis infection that occurred, and was diagnosed and treated in a single day: A rare case report

Kamlesh Thakur et al. Oman J Ophthalmol. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Ophthalmomyiasis is an infestation of eye with larvae or maggots of certain flies. Oestrus ovis (sheep nasal botfly) belonging to family Oestridae is the most common cause of human myiasis. We describe here an acute presentation of a case of external ophthalmomyiasis, i.e., infestation of conjunctiva due to first instar larvae of Oestrus ovis. In this case report the occurrence, diagnosis and treatment all took place in the setting of a single day. Prompt treatment by removal of larvae mechanically followed by instillation of antibiotic and steroid eye drops helped to prevent serious complications. The taxonomic identification of fly is also important as some fly species are capable of penetrating deeper tissues of eyes, which is sight threatening.

Keywords: Acute presentation; Oestrus ovis; maggots; ophthalmomyiasis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Maggot removed from the patient showing translucent, segmented body and two large dark oral hooks connected to a white cephalopharyngeal skeleton
Figure 2
Figure 2
Magnified view showing anterior part of the maggot with a pair of dark oral hooks
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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