External ophthalmomyiasis by Oestrus ovis in tourists visiting Italy. Report of three cases and a literature review

Abstract

Background: Oestrus ovis is a dipteran parasite responsible of myiasis in small ruminants and reported as the causative agent of myiasis in humans particularly in sheep farming areas. In recent years, several human cases had been reported without any previous history of exposure to livestock or visit to rural areas.

Case presentation: We describe three clustered cases of ophthalmomyiasis externa in tourists in Sardinia and Sicily and discuss them in the light of the published literature. The patients presented ocular irritation, foreign body sensation, pain, redness, and lacrimation of the eyelids. After extraction, all the larvae were morphologically and molecularly confirmed as L1 instar of O. ovis larvae.

Conclusions: The present study points out the need to draw attention and awareness among the physicians, and to consider ophthalmomyiasis when consulted for conjunctivitis in the summer and spring seasons.

Keywords: Oestrus ovis; Ophthalmomyiasis; Sardinia; Sicily; Tourists.