myiasis

Any infection due to invasion of tissues or cavities of the body by larvae of dipterous insects. [G. myia, a fly]

- accidental m. gastrointestinal m. from ingestion of contaminated food.

- African furuncular m. SYN: cordylobiasis.

- aural m. invasion of the external, middle, or inner ear by larvae of dipterous insects.

- human botfly m. SYN: dermatobiasis.

- intestinal m. presence of larvae of certain dipterous insects in the gastrointestinal tract, as of Musca domestica (domestic housefly), the cheese mite, and Fannia canicularis (lesser housefly).

- nasal m. fly larva invasion of the nasal passages, due most commonly in the U.S. to primary screw-worms, the larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax, which develop in the nasal or aural cavity.

- ocular m. invasion of the conjunctival sac or eyeball by larvae of flies, e.g., Hypoderma bovis, H. lineata, Sarcophaga, or Gasterophilus intestinalis. SYN: ophthalmomyiasis.

- tumbu dermal m. SYN: cordylobiasis.

- wound m. the infestation of a surface wound or other open lesion by fly larvae.

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my·ia·sis mī-'ī-ə-səs, mē- n, pl my·ia·ses -.sēz infestation with fly maggots

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n.

an infestation of a living organ or tissue by maggots. The flies normally breed in decaying animal and vegetable matter; myiasis therefore generally occurs only in regions of poor hygiene, and in most cases the infestations are accidental. Various genera may infect humans. Gasterophilus, Hypoderma, Dermatobia, and Cordylobia affect the skin; Fannia invades the alimentary canal and the urinary system; Phormia and Wohlfahrtia can infest open wounds and ulcers; Oestrus attacks the eyes; and Cochliomyia invades the nasal passages. Treatment of external myiases involves the destruction and removal of maggots followed by the application of antibiotics to wounds and lesions.

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my·i·a·sis (mi-iґə-sis) [Gr. myia fly + -iasis] a condition caused by infestation of the body by fly maggots.