Mangoworms

Thanks to the interwebs, I stumbled across this. If you are of a squeamish nature, don't click on the video. I found it shocking but educational.


Cordylobia anthropophaga, the mango fly, tumbu fly, tumba fly, putzi fly or skin maggot fly is a species of blow-fly common in East and Central Africa. It is a parasite of large mammals (including humans) during its larval stage.[1] C. anthropophaga has been endemic in the subtropics of Africa for more than 135 years and is a common cause of myiasis in humans in the region.[2]
Its specific epithet anthropophaga derives from the Greek word anthropophagos, "human eater".
"The mode of infection by the Cayor Worm. Doctors Rodhain and Bequaert conclude, from their observations in the Congo Free State, that Cordylobia anthropophaga (Grunberg) lays its eggs on the ground. The larvae, known generally as Cayor Worms, crawl over the soil until they come in contact with man or a mammal, penetrate the skin and lie in the subcutaneous tissue, causing the formation of tumors. On reaching full growth, the larvae leave the host, fall to the ground, bury themselves and then pupate. This fly is said to be the most common cause of human or animal myiasis in tropical Africa, from Senegal to Natal. In the region of Lower Katanga where these investigations were made, dogs appeared to be the principal hosts, although Cordylobia larvae were found also in guinea-pigs, a monkey and two humans. The larvae are always localized on those parts of the hosts which come in immediate contact with the soil." (Ann. Soc. Entom. de Belgique, Iv, pp. 192–197, 1911) summary translation in Entomological News. 1911 Vol. xxii:467.

Damn I'm happy we don't have these guys here in Japan.

Comments

  1. You might always want to look up Bot Fly, another group of fly whose larval stage grows in a living host, originating from South America. May not see human cases, unless travel is involved, but there are several animal cases experienced in the US (not sure about other countries). Bot flies are a headache for horse people as they have to deal with a seeping hole that doesn't heal until the infestation is removed. Various livestock can get it as well, from rabbits to cattle.

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    1. Yeah, I've seen the bot fly videos where people are pulling huge maggots out of their bodies.

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  2. Ugh. I would want to wear gloves if I had to do this for my dog.

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    1. I think the lack of gloves is for better grip. Regardless, an infestation like this must be miserable for the dog.

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