Beware of these creepy guests
Malan said that is why it is important to iron or tumble-dry clothes. “This kills the eggs and prevents infestation.”
LYDENBURG – Having a living parasite crawling under your skin could very well be one of the worst things to experience.
Unfortunately, this is also the reality in town as a local veterinarian, Dr Marietjie Malan has confirmed that mango worm cases have been reported. Cordylobia anthropophaga; known as the mango fly, tumbu fly, Tumba fly, putzi fly, or skin maggot fly is a species of blowfly common in East and Central Africa.
It is a parasite of large mammals (including humans) during its larval stage. This fly has been endemic in the subtropics of Africa for more than 135 years and is a common cause of myiasis in humans in some regions. Malan said that there have been cases reported of animal infestation in town.
“The fly lays the eggs in soil, clothing or bedding. When an animal lays down on the affected area, the body heat attracts the hatched larvae and it then burrows into the skin. There they live off the bodily fluids of the host until they are ready to pupate.” Humans can also be infested.
Malan said that is why it is important to iron or tumble-dry clothes. “This kills the eggs and prevents infestation.” According to the National Institute for Disease Control (NIDC), this fly is common in Africa and occurs in the northern regions of South Africa including Northern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West provinces. This fly species generally parasitises large mammals including dogs and, inadvertently, humans. The flies typically deposit their eggs in soil but will also lay them on soiled clothing.
Once the larvae hatch, they attach to an animal (or human), pierce the skin, and grow through three larval instars inside the boil-like skin lesion that they form. When they are ready to pupate, they exit the lesion and fall to the ground. This process generally takes up to 12 days.
Humans can become infected by these larvae by donning clothes on which eggs have been laid. It is extremely important to note that washing should not be laid on the ground to dry. The NIDC said treatment consisted of covering the lesion with Vaseline or liquid paraffin, which suffocates the larva. Treatment should be left on for 30 minutes to an hour and then the larva should be pushed out via finger pressure.
It said attempted removal by instruments may rupture the larva and cause severe inflammation. It is advisable to seek medical attention for you or your animal should you suspect an infestation, to prevent any further inflammation or discomfort.
