Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ are also known as ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐, but they are anything but cute! These larval stages of the Cuterebra fly cause ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (fly infestation) in several species.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
The typical hosts of these larvae are rodents and rabbits, however they can occasionally infest cats, dogs, pigs and even humans!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
The larvae will grab onto the fur of the animal, and then begin its quest to gain access into the animalโs body. They can either burrow into the skin directly, crawl to an external orifice like the nose, or get licked off the skin and eaten when the animal grooms itself. Once they gain entry into the animal, they migrate towards the skin to set up a house for themselves in the ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐, the layer just below the external surface of the skin. This little house features a hole leading from the larvae to the skin surface, which allows the larvae to breathe.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
These holes in the skin are quite painful, and are prone to developing bacterial infections after the larvae leave the animal. But perhaps the most terrifying problem with Cuterebra is their migration to the skin surfaceโฆ sometimes they get lost! The larvae can end up in any organ, including the eyes or even the brain!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
This condition is pretty easy to diagnose, as these animals will present with soft swellings with a hole in them. Further investigation will reveal the larva inside! Itโs like a really awful birthday surprise.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Removal of the larvae is the main treatment, followed by thorough cleaning of the swellings to prevent bacterial infection. Usually these lesions heal quite slowly, so it requires good follow-up with the veterinarian.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) An example of a Cuterebra larvae.
2) A nice diagram showing the larvae migrating to the skin, and forming its little house.
3-4) Examples of animals with Cuterebra lesions.
5) A Cuterebra larvae chilling on the brain.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1, 4-5 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributors Crowell, Tyler, Beasley licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo 2 ยฉ Wikimedia Commons contributors Accarologiste licensed under CC 4.0 International.
