Pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of ophthalmomyiasis interna posterior in a dog

Abstract

Unilateral chorioretinitis caused by ophthalmomyiasis interna posterior in a 5-month-old, female spayed Dachshund is reported. Larva removal by pars plana vitrectomy was performed after an unsuccessful photocoagulation of the organism. The larva was intact after surgical removal and was identified as a first stage instar Cuterebra spp. larva. The eye remains visual and comfortable with no signs of residual or recurrent inflammation postoperatively. This report describes, for the first time, the successful surgical retrieval of an intravitreal fly larva in a dog using vitrectomy techniques without sacrificing either the globe or vision, and taxonomic identification of the parasite.

Incidence of myiasis among humans—a review

“…Dead larvae in the vitreous cavity were also detected as they might not get a chance to escape for pupation. Various other researchers also reported cases of ophthalmomyiasis interna (Buettner 2002;Edelmann et al 2014;Georgalas et al 2011;Gozum et al 2003;Khoumiri et al 2008;Lagace-Wiens et al 2008;Ollivier et al 2006;Saraiva et al 2006;Sharifipour and Feghhi 2008;Taba et al 2012). A rare case of secondary myiasis of ocular infestation by C. bezziana was reported in a 55-year-old female from Iran which involved significant destruction of the eyeball (Berenji et al 2015).…”

“…Ophthalmomyiasis is a frequent phenomenon among animals including sheep, horse, cattle, cat and dogs. Various researchers have reported the prevalence of ophthalmomyiasis in dogs (Ollivier et al 2006;Crumley et al 2011;Delgado 2012;Edelmann et al 2014) and cats (Harris et al 2000;Stiles and Rankin 2006). Although rare, it does occur in humans also.…”

Symblepharon secondary to ophthalmomyiasis externa in a dog

“…In dogs and cats, there are reports on ophthalmomyiasis interna anterior 4 and posterior 20 , associated with Cuterebra spp. in a cat 21 and a pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of ophthalmomyiasis interna posterior in a dog 22 …”

Myiasis

“…Oral myiasis, first described in the literature in 1909, is a kind of wound myiasis associated with poor oral hygiene (44,197), alcoholism (116), senility (123), severe halitosis (32), socket orifice (306), suppurating lesions, gingival disease, trauma, and mental debility (123,293) and with people who maintain their mouths open for a long period of time (306). Infants who were breastfed by mothers with breasts infected by C. anthropophaga presented with larvae in the upper and lower lips and in other parts of the body (253). Poor hygiene is the most important risk factor and is present in almost all cases (95).…”