Een man uit Colorado dacht dat hij gek werd. Hij hoorde constant geluiden. Ten einde raad trok hij naar de dokter en die constateerde dat er larven onder de man zijn huid huisden.
Hij heeft de infectie waarschijnlijk opgelopen tijdens een reis naar Belize. In bepaalde streken van Centraal en Zuid Amerika zijn dergelijke infecties niet zeldzaam. De boosdoener Dermatobia hominis (een soort horzel), plaatst zijn eitjes onder de huid van de gastheer. De larven groeien verder onder de huid. Ze vormen een etterbuil of subcutane myiasis. Dezelfde larven worden soms gebruikt om dood weefsel weg te vreten bij wondzorg.
'Het verwijderen van de larven was pijnlijk.', aldus de Amerikaan.
bron ITG:
http://www.itg.be/itg/DistanceLearning/LectureNotesVandenEndenE/52_Ectoparasitesp5.htm
Dermatobia hominis (ver macaque) occurs in scrubland and woody lowland regions of Latin America. This large (15 mm) blue-grey fly has a remarkable life cycle. During their short life (8-9 days) adult females seize various bloodsucking insects. They then attach 6-30 eggs to the body of these arthropods, which include Psorophora mosquitoes and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans). Cattle flies (Haematobia irritans and H. exigua) can also act as transport hosts. In some cattle breeding districts they constitute a real plague. The larva of Dermatobia hominis develops in the egg. When the transport insect sucks blood, the larva feels the higher temperature and breaks out of the egg and drops onto the skin or fur. Subsequently the Dermatobia larva penetrates the skin relatively rapidly. The larvae cause rather large cutaneous lesions, often painful and pruritic, few in number and frequently solitary and localised on the head. Development is slow, up to 12 weeks, and sometimes as much as 18 weeks. Fluid is formed constantly, consisting of the excreta of the larvae, but there is rarely superinfection. If this occurs, cellulitis and lymphangitis can follow. Frequently, the larvae have to be removed surgically (the final size of the larvae is 18-25 mm). A non-invasive technique of removing larvae is based on topical application vaseline to cut of their oxygen supply. This does not work very well. One can also use fresh bacon. The white part of the raw bacon is laid on the wound for some hours until the larva has attached itself. The bacon should then be lifted up and the larva can be grasped and removed with a rapid movement.
'Het verwijderen van de larven was pijnlijk.', aldus de Amerikaan.
bron ITG:
http://www.itg.be/itg/DistanceLearning/LectureNotesVandenEndenE/52_Ectoparasitesp5.htm
Dermatobia hominis (ver macaque) occurs in scrubland and woody lowland regions of Latin America. This large (15 mm) blue-grey fly has a remarkable life cycle. During their short life (8-9 days) adult females seize various bloodsucking insects. They then attach 6-30 eggs to the body of these arthropods, which include Psorophora mosquitoes and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans). Cattle flies (Haematobia irritans and H. exigua) can also act as transport hosts. In some cattle breeding districts they constitute a real plague. The larva of Dermatobia hominis develops in the egg. When the transport insect sucks blood, the larva feels the higher temperature and breaks out of the egg and drops onto the skin or fur. Subsequently the Dermatobia larva penetrates the skin relatively rapidly. The larvae cause rather large cutaneous lesions, often painful and pruritic, few in number and frequently solitary and localised on the head. Development is slow, up to 12 weeks, and sometimes as much as 18 weeks. Fluid is formed constantly, consisting of the excreta of the larvae, but there is rarely superinfection. If this occurs, cellulitis and lymphangitis can follow. Frequently, the larvae have to be removed surgically (the final size of the larvae is 18-25 mm). A non-invasive technique of removing larvae is based on topical application vaseline to cut of their oxygen supply. This does not work very well. One can also use fresh bacon. The white part of the raw bacon is laid on the wound for some hours until the larva has attached itself. The bacon should then be lifted up and the larva can be grasped and removed with a rapid movement.
