Facultative myiasis of domestic cats by Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Calliphora vicina and Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in northern Italy

Parasitol Res. 2017 Oct;116(10):2869-2872. doi: 10.1007/s00436-017-5582-z. Epub 2017 Aug 12.

Abstract

We describe five cases of myiasis of domestic cats, Felis silvestris catus L. (Carnivora: Felidae), reported in 2016 in northern Italy and caused by three Diptera species: Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Sarcophagidae), Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Calliphoridae). Three were cases of traumatic myiasis, one by S. argyrostoma and two by L. sericata, one was a case of auricular myiasis by C. vicina and one was a case of ophthalmomyiasis caused by an association of L. sericata and C. vicina. The myiasis by S. argyrostoma is the first reported case of this species in a cat, whereas the two myiases by C. vicina are the first reported cases in cats in Italy.

Keywords: Calliphora vicina; Cat; Facultative myiasis; Italy; Lucilia sericata; Sarcophaga argyrostoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cat Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cat Diseases / parasitology*
  • Cats
  • Diptera / physiology*
  • Female
  • Italy
  • Larva
  • Male
  • Myiasis / diagnosis
  • Myiasis / parasitology
  • Myiasis / veterinary*
  • Ovum
  • Sarcophagidae / physiology