Botflies are unpleasant and rather large flying insects that are widespread throughout the world. Most of them are in the tropics and hot countries. Although they also live in Russia, Europe, and Asia. Are gadflies dangerous? And how. These insects cause harm to livestock and farming, reducing milk yield and livestock weight gain. They also lay eggs on the skin and fur of animals. At the same time, there are species that can choose humans for this purpose.
In turn, larvae emerge from the eggs of the gadfly, which lead a parasitic lifestyle and thereby cause significant harm to the health of their prey. Want to know more? Including understanding how to protect yourself from them? Then the information below will be useful for you.
What does a parasite look like?
The gadfly is a fairly large fly, the size of which varies depending on the species from 9 to 25 mm. It has a wide body, transparent wings, a round head with short antennae and large eyes. The whole body is covered with villi, the color varies from beige-brown to yellow-gray, the abdomen has a bluish tint.
The appearance of the gadfly larva depends on what stage of development it is at. The newly hatched larva barely reaches 2 mm. Its segmented light body in the shape of a drop is covered with small dark spikes-hooks, thanks to which it is held on the skin or fur. With each molt, the size of the larva increases and the body becomes more elongated.
Appearance
Clinical picture
So, what symptoms can indicate the presence of third stage larvae in a dog’s body? Firstly, a short-term increase in body temperature is possible. However, in 99% of cases this goes unnoticed. The dog may not look too good for a couple of days, his appetite is somewhat reduced , but that’s all. But blood tests often reveal eosinophilia, which is, in principle, characteristic of all types of helminthiasis . It is interesting, however, that during clinical studies an interesting fact was revealed: for some reason, an increase in the number of eosinophils is more typical for cases when a female Dirofilaria develops in the animal’s body. What this is connected with is not very clear. Most likely, the matter is in the cytological differences in the outer cuticle of female and male parasites. It is also interesting that in more than 70% of cases of subcutaneous dirofilariasis, when the cyst is dissected, it is female worms that are found . Again, why their survival rate in uncharacteristic conditions is so higher is a question that needs further study.
How does the larva develop?
Reproduction and reproduction of offspring is the main purpose of the existence of an adult gadfly. As soon as she is born, the female immediately goes in search of a male to mate with. After fertilization, the female looks for a suitable object on which to lay eggs.
The female subcutaneous gadfly lays eggs on the skin of the animal, the gastric one on the food plant, the cavitary one is viviparous, so it immediately attaches larvae to the victim. Once inside the body of a person or animal, the larva begins to actively eat. Her diet includes blood and tissues, from which she receives all the nutrients necessary for development and growth.
The larval stage lasts from 5 to 10 weeks. During this time, the parasite goes through several molts and increases in size by 10–15 times. A fully formed larva is ready to become a pupa. To do this, it leaves the host's body. The larva may gnaw through the skin to escape or be shed in the feces.
Morphological features
It all starts with the appearance of small swellings and thickening on the surface of the skin. At first, their size does not exceed 1x1 cm, but within a few weeks the area of the lesions increases two to three times. Most often, these tumors are found on the lower surface of the abdominal wall, closer to the genital area. Soon the seals soften somewhat, becoming similar in consistency to cysts . When they were surgically removed, the inside of the cysts was separated from the “main” tissue by a demarcation line of inflammation (but not always). In addition, a worm is found inside the tumors. The length of subcutaneous parasites does not exceed 12 cm , their body is thin, grayish-white in color.
Main routes of penetration into animals and humans
How exactly the gadfly lays eggs on its prey and where the larvae will develop depends on what type of insect it is. There are three main groups of gadflies:
- subcutaneous - the female lays eggs on the fur or on the skin, the hatched larvae penetrate inside and travel through the tissues;
- gastric - the female lays eggs on food plants, the larvae enter the animal’s digestive system with food and feed on the tissues of the internal organs;
- cavitary - a viviparous female in flight injects larvae into the animal’s face, the parasites penetrate into the eyes or nose, and through them further to the brain.
The only species of gadflies that attack humans are those whose larvae develop under the skin. But people can become infected with absolutely any type of parasite. The female may throw the larvae in the face, or you can eat meat infected with the larvae of the gastric botfly. Even petting an infected cow or sheep can produce one or more larvae.
Another way in which gadfly larvae appear in the human body is through blood-sucking insects. The female lays eggs on the abdomen of the mosquito, which lands on a person to bite him, and the egg ends up on the skin. Body heat provokes the appearance of a larva that penetrates the skin.
Cutaneous form
In this form, dirofilariasis in dogs occurs quite often, and in most cases it is discovered by chance. One can easily mistake a lump or knot under the skin for an abscess, abscess, atheroma or tumor, or cyst, since such a formation does not reveal its origin until it is opened.
After the doctor cleans the wound and removes the worm, its habitat is disinfected and usually heals without a trace. It is imperative to use drug therapy in order to destroy possible larvae - microfilariae, which can give rise to new formations under the skin.
Up to half of all cases of skin formations occur in the eye area. The pest can settle under the skin of the eyelids, conjunctiva or mucous membrane, sometimes it even lives in the eyeball itself. This is a complex pathology that will require special skill and care from the surgeon when removing the parasite.
Are gadfly larvae dangerous for pets?
Pets are also susceptible to infection with botfly larvae. Of course, this happens to them much less often than to farm animals, but there is a risk. A cat or dog can pick up the larvae of the subcutaneous botfly, for example, if it walks in a pasture or spends time in a barn.
Larvae
Also, parasite eggs can be acquired by a pet from the abdomen of an attached tick. And after eating a piece of contaminated meat, the animal will get stomach parasites.
Is additional treatment necessary?
A dog with severe heartworm disease may need antibiotics, pain medications, special diets, diuretics to clear fluid buildup in the lungs, and medications to improve heart function. Even after the worms are cleared, the dog may require lifelong treatment for heart failure. Treatment includes diuretics, heart medications such as an ACE inhibitor, beta blockers or cardioglycocides, and special low-salt diets.
What harm is done to a person?
Gadfly larvae, once in the human body, provoke the development of parasitic diseases - myiases. The presence of parasites not only causes discomfort, but also negatively affects the human body. At the initial stage, due to the vital activity of the parasite, general health deteriorates. The person becomes lethargic, nausea appears, and inflammation begins at the site of penetration of the larvae, which is most often accompanied by suppuration.
But if the larvae of the human skin gadfly live in the layers of the epidermis, then gastric or cavity parasites can affect internal organs. This is much more dangerous, as it leads to malfunctions of these organs, and therefore the entire body. Larvae that get into the eyes can cause deterioration and subsequently complete loss of vision.
What do helminths do to a dog?
It usually takes several years before the dog begins to show clinical signs of infection. Consequently, the disease is diagnosed mainly in dogs aged 2 to 7 years. The disease rarely occurs in dogs under one year of age, as the microfilariae, once infected, take five to seven months to mature into adult worms. Unfortunately, by the time clinical signs are visible, the disease is usually well advanced.
Adult worms: Adult worms cause the disease by blocking the heart and adjacent large blood vessels. They also interfere with the functioning of the heart valve. When a major blood vessel is blocked, the blood supply to other organs of the body, especially the lungs, liver and kidneys, is impaired, resulting in their functioning being impaired.
Signs of heartworm disease depend on the number of adults in the body, the duration of the disease, and the amount of damage caused to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Clinical signs of heart dirofilariasis are a mild dry cough, shortness of breath, and loss of stamina.
The most obvious clinical signs of heartworm disease are a mild, dry cough, shortness of breath, weakness, nervousness, lethargy, and loss of stamina. All of these signs are most noticeable after exercise, when some dogs may even become unconscious or disoriented. Your veterinarian may notice an abnormal heart or lung murmur when listening to the chest with a stethoscope. In advanced cases, congestive heart failure and swelling of the abdomen and limbs may occur. Weight loss, poor general condition and anemia may also occur. Severely infected dogs may die suddenly during exercise or overstimulation.
Microfilariae (immature helminths) circulate throughout the body, but remain mainly in small blood vessels. Because they are almost the same width as small vessels, they can block blood flow in these vessels. The cells supplied by these vessels are thus deprived of nutrients and oxygen. Microfilariae usually cause damage to the lungs and liver. Destruction of lung tissue leads to coughing. Liver damage leads to cirrhosis of the liver, which in turn leads to jaundice, anemia and general weakness. The kidneys can also become damaged and allow toxins to build up in the body.
Symptoms of the appearance of gadfly larvae in humans
When a gadfly larva enters the body, a person most often does not feel anything. Symptoms begin to appear later, when the parasite begins to actively eat and move around. Depending on the location of the larva, pain occurs, which becomes more and more intense. The resulting weakness and nausea intensify, adding vomiting and dizziness. Quite often the patient’s temperature rises, sometimes there is fever and muscle pain.
Parasites in the nasal cavity provoke swelling, severe headaches, and constant copious secretion of mucus. If the larvae penetrate the eyes, severe lacrimation (sometimes with blood) and pain appear.
Best answers
Nadezhda Mikhailova: horror! Why did you bring the dog to this? She's rotting alive!!!
This is me: she has already died, judging by the fact that maggots have appeared - about two weeks ago
Fox: Why are there maggots on her, are there wounds?
Irina Kozyavkina: well, you are sadists. I'll call the police right now
Elena Rusakova (Averina): you need to treat the wound with an antiseptic solution. Wash the maggots thoroughly with water. then put on a bandage with miramistin. In general, you can buy chlorhexidine and wash the wound every day. It is advisable to show the dog to the veterinarian later. or at least give a course of antibiotics, such as gentamicin. it is inexpensive, 2 times a day, 0.3 each. Don’t be afraid, prick in the leg, you will feel the muscle there.
kennel “Bas-ko-chi”: What a nightmare, imagine yourself in his place, here is another example of a dog “for yourself”, or for free, why care for it? Fiends
Marina Frolova: well, firstly, they are simply removed with peroxide or chlorhexidine with a cotton swab, secondly, this is how to run a dog so that maggots will appear, 3rd, cut off all the hair around the affected areas so that it does not get into the wounds . Apply a thin layer of Levomikol ointment, do not lick it off. Do this 2-3 times a day until complete recovery.
DIMON FILIN: she urgently needs to be taken to the veterinarian. Maggots only breed in rotting meat. and the process of rotting is underway. don't torture the dog, take it to the vet. clinic!
OLGA GALUK: how to cure maggots from a dog?
Angelika Byankina: This is to the vet!!! They need to be removed, not lotions applied!!!
How and with what to treat?
If the doctor confirms the presence of larvae, treatment should be started immediately. First of all, it is necessary to remove the parasites, and only after that begin healing and restorative therapy. The treatment regimen is selected based on the location of the larvae and the patient’s condition.
Drug treatment
In some cases, in order to remove the larvae in the human body, special antiparasitic agents are used. They contain substances that are toxic to insects. The drug can only be prescribed by a doctor after a study has been carried out.
Attention! Self-administration of the medication may cause complications.
Antibiotics
In most cases, myiasis is treated with a course of antibiotics that will help avoid the development of an inflammatory process in the tissues.
Removing the larva
Removal of subcutaneous gadfly larvae is carried out using tweezers or a special clamp. First, oil is dripped into the hole through which the parasite penetrated the skin or covered with a band-aid. Having difficulty accessing air, the insect will begin to crawl out. That's when they pull him out.
In more complex cases, when the botfly larvae are located in the internal organs, eyes or nasal cavity of a person, surgical intervention may be required to remove them.
Is it worth calling a doctor to your home to get help on how to remove maggots from a dog?
If you find any parasites or foreign insects on your dog’s body, you should immediately seek the advice of a veterinarian.
. And the best solution would be to call a doctor to your home. This measure will help save a lot of nerve cells from other visitors to the veterinary center and the owner. A doctor’s visit will help you take a test at home, carefully examine the parasites and prescribe adequate treatment tactics. With maggots, it also makes sense to adjust your diet. It should be quite light and at the same time high in calories. The veterinarian and his professional specialists will help in the fight against maggots.
How to prepare for the doctor's arrival
Having a doctor visit your home can save you a lot of time.
, which can be spent usefully, for example, inspecting the rear hole of the animal for cleanliness. You should also carefully prepare for the doctor’s visit. Prepare a clean towel, wet wipes, and a large, wide surface covered with a sterile sheet. When the doctor arrives, you should remain calm and not panic. Dogs are excellent psychologists and they detect the slightest change in their owner’s mood. Panic is also easily transmitted to them, and an agitated animal is quite difficult to examine. Which doctor should I call? First of all, you should invite a veterinarian who will conduct a general examination of the animal. By agreement with the owner, a dermatologist from our veterinary center will be sent.
- You can further familiarize yourself with the list of our doctors who are ready to help on the first call:
- classical doctor;
- dermatologist;
- surgeon;
- dentist;
- nephrologist;
- neurologist;
- ophthalmologist;
- ENT;
- gynecologist for bitches;
- ratologist (specialist in rodents and guinea pigs).
If you use such a convenient service as a veterinarian at home at least once, you will no longer want to come to the veterinary center on your own.
How to protect yourself from gadfly larvae?
Preventative measures will help to avoid infection with gadfly larvae:
- when going to places where there may be insects, wear clothes that cover the body as much as possible;
- treat clothing and exposed areas of the body with repellents;
- Avoid places where insects gather.
Anyone who breeds farm animals is at risk. Farm owners need to protect not only themselves, but also their livestock. The following measures will help with this:
- regular inspection of all livestock;
- treating animals with special preparations that destroy larvae;
- organizing grazing of livestock in the morning or evening (it is better to leave animals indoors during the day, since it is at this time that gadflies are especially active).
In addition, traps and insect repellents must be used on the farm.
Cause of heart dirofilariasis
Heartworm disease, or heartworm disease, is a very serious and potentially fatal disease.
The disease is caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. Adult worms in infected dogs are located in the heart and in the large blood vessels adjacent to it. Sometimes worms can be found in other parts of the cardiovascular system. An adult female worm reaches 15-36 cm in length and 5 mm in width. The male is approximately half the size of the female. One dog may have up to 300 worms at the time of diagnosis.
An adult heartworm can live up to five years.
Adult worms can live up to five years and during this time the female produces millions of offspring called microfilariae. Microfilariae live mainly in small vessels.
Habertiosis in sheep
Habertiosis is a helminthiasis of ruminants, mainly sheep, caused by nematodes that parasitize the large intestine. This disease occurs everywhere.
The nematodes that cause this disease are large in size, white in color, and have a characteristic blunt and beveled head end. The development of parasite larvae takes place in 5-7 days. Infection occurs through the nutritional route (by ingesting infective larvae).
After ingestion by an animal, the larvae develop in its body to mature helminths.
Most often, young individuals are susceptible to this disease.
Outbreaks of habertiosis occur in the spring (March-April), especially during rainy periods.
Sick animals experience disheveled hair loss, rapid weight loss, anemia, and diarrhea.
To make a diagnosis, infective larvae isolated from the feces of infected animals are grown.
For treatment, phenothiazine is prescribed at a dosage of 0.5 g/kg twice. The drug should be given every other day.
Nilverm is also prescribed at a dosage of 0.02 g/kg once.
For prevention, it is recommended to deworm young sheep before turning them out to pasture (January-February). You can give animals phenothiazine in a smaller dosage mixed with table salt.
Chiostrongylosis in pigs
Chiostrongylosis is a helminthiasis of pigs caused by nematodes that parasitize the stomach. This disease is widespread everywhere. The emergence of larvae from eggs occurs in the external environment. They are able to remain viable in water for more than 8 months.
In the body of the host (pigs), the parasite larvae penetrate into the thickness of the gastric mucosa, where after 3 weeks they reach sexual maturity. Infection occurs through the nutritional route. Chiostrongylosis mainly affects adults. Meat breed pigs are least likely to become infected. The disease appears in the spring and reaches its peak in the fall.
Sick animals are lethargic, most of the time they lie buried in the bedding, their fur becomes disheveled. Pigs refuse food. Bloody diarrhea is common.
To treat this disease caused by nematodes, thiabendazole is prescribed once with food at a dosage of 100 mg/kg. Long-term use of this drug is possible in a 0.05% concentration as a feed additive. Approximately 10 days before slaughter, this drug should be excluded from the diet.
Personal safety measures
Medicines for the destruction of worms contain a small concentration of poison or a paralyzing substance for parasites. Therefore, during deworming, observe personal safety measures. After handling any form of medication, wash your hands with soap and discard the product packaging.
Keep deworming medications out of the reach of children and animals. Do not use medicine that has expired or after darkening, cloudiness, or impurities have appeared. Do not use empty bottles for household purposes.
