Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2017 Feb 3:6:11-14.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2017.01.002. eCollection 2017 Jun.

A case of ophthalmomyiasis interna in the Pacific Northwest

Affiliations
Case Reports

A case of ophthalmomyiasis interna in the Pacific Northwest

Homer H Chiang et al. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Purpose: We report a case of ophthalmomyiasis interna successfully removed in toto with pars plana vitrectomy.

Observations: An 84-year-old woman with recent close contact with lambs presented with a new floater. Examination revealed subretinal tracks pathognomonic for ophthalmomyiasis and a larva suspended in the vitreous. The larva was successfully removed in toto with pars plana vitrectomy by aspiration through the vitreous cutter.

Conclusions and importance: Aspiration with pars plana vitrectomy can be considered a primary therapeutic modality for botfly larvae suspended in the vitreous. In our case, in toto removal of the larvae reduced the risk of inflammatory reaction.

Keywords: Oestrus ovis; Ophthalmomyiasis interna; Sheep botfly; Vitrectomy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A) Ultra-wide field color fundus photo of the right eye demonstrating peripheral hypopigmented subretinal tracks and a larva in the vitreous anteriorly (white circle). (B) Ultra-wide field fundus autofluorescence photo highlighting the subretinal tracks. (C) Color slit lamp photo of the larva suspended in anterior vitreous. (D) Infra-red image of larva.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Histological image of the retrieved specimen demonstrating transparent body with tapered ends, mouth hooks, and body spicules.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Custis P.H., Pakalnis V.A., Klintworth G.K. Posterior interna ophthalmomyiasis; identification of a surgically removed Cuterebra larva by scanning electron microscopy. Ophthalmology. 1983;90:1583–1590. - PubMed
    1. Dixon J.M., Winkler C.H., Nelson J.H. Ophthalmomyiasis interna caused by Cuterebra larva. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1969;67:110–115. - PMC - PubMed
    1. O'Brien C.S., Allen J.H. Ophthalmomyiasis interna anterior: report of Hypoderma larva in anterior chamber. Am J Ophthalmol. 1939;22:996–998.
    1. Lagacé-Wiens P.R., Dookeran R., Skinner S. Human ophthalmomyiasis interna caused by Hypoderma tarandi. North Can Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14:64–66. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kearney M.S., Nilssen A.C., Lyslo A. Ophthalmomyiasis caused by the reindeer warble fly larva. J Clin Pathol. 1991;44:276–284. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources