Gastrointestinal symptoms resembling ulcerative proctitis caused by larvae of the drone fly Eristalis tenax

Pathog Glob Health. 2014 Apr;108(3):158-63. doi: 10.1179/2047773214Y.0000000135.

Abstract

We report a case of facultative intestinal myiasis due to larvae of the drone fly Eristalis tenax, also named the rat-tailed maggots. The development of larvae in the lower bowel was responsible for non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms that resembled ulcerative proctitis. The diagnosis was established upon the observation of four spontaneously excreted mobile larvae. The definite identification of the E. tenax species was made possible by scanning electron microscopy. The clinical outcome was satisfactory.

Keywords: Drone fly larvae,; Eristalis tenax,; Facultative intestinal myiasis,; Proctitis,; Rat-tailed maggot,; Scanning electron microscopy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Diptera / growth & development*
  • Diptera / ultrastructure
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Myiasis / diagnosis*
  • Myiasis / pathology*
  • Proctocolitis / parasitology*
  • Proctocolitis / pathology*