Summer is here and the hot, humid conditions are perfect for the mango fly (also known as putzi fly) to lay its eggs in damp soil or on damp clothing or bedding.

Vets have their hands full, as pets are being infested with mango worms. When the eggs come into contact with the skin the larvae hatch and burrow into the skin where they begin to grow, creating little boils. According to West Acres Animal Hospital this can be painful and the “worms” need to be manually removed.

To prevent this, one should iron or tumble dry clothes and bedding to kill the eggs. One can also use products that repel flies such as Shoofly spray or Advantix Top Spot.

This fly has been endemic to the subtropics of Africa for more than 135 years and is a common cause of myiasis in humans in some regions. A local vet said that there have been cases reported of animal infestation in town.

When an animal lies down on wet soil where eggs have been laid, the body heat attracts the hatched larvae and they then burrow into the skin. There they live off the bodily fluids of the host until they are ready to pupate.”
Humans can also be infested.

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 consists 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.

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