2024 journal article

Ophthalmomyiasis Case Caused by Two Blow Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Species in North America

The Scientific World Journal.

By: T. Parker n, K. Meiklejohn n, G. Dahlem*, R. Eagle* & M. Heersink*

Ed(s): S. Schwartz

Source: ORCID
Added: May 15, 2024

Ophthalmomyiasis is the result of fly larvae feeding on the tissues of the eye. Commonly associated with poor hygiene and open wounds, this condition is rare and often stigmatized. Treatment can be straightforward, and full recovery is common. Identifying the species responsible for ophthalmomyiasis is important for the medical, forensic, and entomological communities. Here, we present a case of ophthalmomyiasis where 30-40 blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae were removed from the eye of a human male. A representative subsample of five larvae was used for taxonomic identification via two approaches (a) DNA analysis, via sequencing of the complete mitochondrial genome (mtGenome) and comparison of the mtGenome and mitochondrial