Rabbit Bot Fly Furuncular, Tracheopulmonary, and Human Bot Fly Infestations in Connecticut (Oestridae: Cuterebrinae)

J Med Entomol. 2021 Jan 12;58(1):114-120. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjaa181.

Abstract

Endemic and tropical human bot infestations are relatively uncommon or unreported in the United States. We report two cases in Connecticut: an unusual furuncular and respiratory myiasis by the rabbit bot Cuterebra buccata (Fab.) (Diptera: Oestridae) in a 74-yr-old male and a case of human bot fly, Dermatobia hominis (L.) (Diptera: Oestridae), myiasis in a 4-yr-old female with a tropical travel history with her family. Identification of C. buccata was based morphologically, in part, on spinal armature and further corroborated by DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene and comparison to the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank DNA sequence database. The resulting annotated sequence data were deposited into the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank. The unique medical aspects, and limitations and specifics on bot fly larval habits and identification are discussed.

Keywords: Cuterebra; Dermatobia; myiasis; bot fly; rodent bot.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Child, Preschool
  • Connecticut
  • Diptera* / classification
  • Diptera* / genetics
  • Diptera* / pathogenicity
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / genetics
  • Female
  • Genes, Insect
  • Humans
  • Larva / classification
  • Larva / genetics
  • Larva / pathogenicity
  • Male
  • Myiasis* / diagnosis
  • Myiasis* / parasitology
  • Rabbits / parasitology
  • Travel-Related Illness

Substances

  • Electron Transport Complex IV

Supplementary concepts

  • Furunculous myiasis