Myiasis caused by the New World screwworm fly Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in cats from Brazil: report of five cases

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 166 - 168
• Main Authors: de Souza, Clarissa P., Verocai, Guilherme G., Ramadinha, Regina H.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2010; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; case studies; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - mortality; Cats; Cochliomyia hominivorax; Diptera; Male; myiasis; Myiasis - diagnosis; Myiasis - epidemiology; Myiasis - mortality; Myiasis - veterinary; Screw Worm Infection - diagnosis; Screw Worm Infection - epidemiology; Screw Worm Infection - mortality; Screw Worm Infection - veterinary; Skin Diseases, Parasitic - diagnosis; Skin Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Skin Diseases, Parasitic - mortality; Skin Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; Brazil
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2009.08.003

This paper reports five cases of intact adult male crossbreed cats presenting with myiasis caused by
Cochliomyia hominivorax. Three were stray animals that died despite treatment due to the severity of lesions while two were client-owned cats previously treated with cryosurgery which completely recovered. Myiasis caused by the New World screwworm fly in cats appears to be more frequent than previously thought, deserving more attention from both veterinary practitioners and owners.