Diseases Spread by Flies: Myiasis and African Trypanosomoiasis
Myiasis
Myiasis is caused when a fly’s larvae burrow into a person’s skin
or a fly deposits its larvae on or near an open sore. Some flies
also attach their eggs to mosquitoes who then pass on the eggs with their bite.
As the larva grows, a lump develops. Treatment can be occluding the air hole or
physically pressing around the lesion to force the larva to the surface for
removal or removal by incision. Myiasis generally does not occur in the United
States except in travelers who have been to tropical areas. Animals are also
subject to myiasis and can be a difficult, ongoing problem resulting in
economic losses to owners of domestic animals.
African Trypanosomoiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
Spread by the salivary glands of
infected Tsetse fliesin
Africa, sleeping sickness is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.
Symptoms include a boil-like sore at
the site of the bite, fever, headaches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and joint
pain. Once the infection invades the central nervous system, progressive
neurologic problems occur. When untreated, sleeping sickness is 100% fatal.
Treatment for this disease is
with anti-parasitic drugs that
should be taken as soon as possible.
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