Case report of human myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax in Mexico
Main Article Content
Keywords
Cochliomyia hominivorax Myiasis, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Zoonosis, Soft Tissue Infections
Abstract
Background: Myiasis is the infestation of living or necrotic tissues of humans and animals by dipteran larvae. It is endemic to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and Africa. It occurs most frequently in vulnerable populations, and it is associated with open wounds, poor hygiene, and predisposing medical conditions. The objective was to describe 2 clinical cases of cutaneous myiasis in humans confirmed in Mexico.
Clinical cases: The first case occurred in a 77-year-old woman, and it was secondary to mild traumatic brain injury according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The second in a 74-year-old man with advanced basal cell carcinoma on the right side of his face. In both cases, samples were sent to the State Public Health Laboratory (LESP) and the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA), where the taxonomic diagnosis of Cochliomyia hominivorax was confirmed.
Conclusions: Myiasis is a preventable disease of epidemiological importance which was considered eradicated in Mexico since 1991. Early diagnosis and comprehensive medical-surgical treatment allow for a favorable evolution and prognosis, with the prevention of serious complications.
References
1. Reyes-Romero KE, Méndez-Fandiño YR, Rojas-Madero FA, et al. Miasis nasal: informe de un caso y revisión del tema. Iatreia. 2016;29(3). doi: 10.17533/udea.iatreia.v29n3a10
2. Secretaría de Salud. Aviso Epidemiológico: miasis por Cochliomyia hominivorax. México: Secretaría de Salud; 25 de abril de 2025. Disponible en: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/992853/Aviso_epidemiologico_Miasis_por_Cochliomyia_hominivorax_25.04.2025_final.pdf
3. Calvopina M, Ortiz-Prado E, Castañeda B, et al. Human myiasis in Ecuador. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020;14(2):e0007858. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007858
4. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria. Miasis por gusano barrenador. Ciudad de México: SENASICA; 2023. Disponible en: https://www.gob.mx/senasica/documentos/miasis-por-gusano-barrenador?state=published
5. Fresia P, Pimentel S, Iriarte V, et al. Perspectiva histórica y nuevas vías para el control de la mosca causante de miasis Cochliomyia hominivorax en Uruguay. Agrocienc Urug. 2021;25(2). doi: 10.31285/agro.25.974
6. Pan American Health Organization. Myiasis by Cochliomyia hominivorax larvae. Washington, DC: PAHO; 2023. Disponible en: https://www.paho.org/es/temas/miasis-por-larvascochliomyiahominivorax
7. Rodrigues FT, Klemig LR, Cardozo MRP, et al. Myiasis associated with an invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast: case study. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2017;59:e35. doi: 10.1590/s1678-9946201759035
8. Giglioti R, Guimarães S, Oliveira-Sequeira TCG, et al. Proteolytic activity of excretory/secretory products of Cochliomyia hominivorax larvae. Pesqui Vet Bras. 2016;36(8):711-8. doi: 10.1590/s0100-736x2016000800006
9. Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal. Miasis por C. hominivorax. París: OMSA; 2023. Disponible en: https://www.woah.org/es/enfermedad/miasis-por-cochliomyia-hominivorax/
10. Dominguez Enríquez J, Cueva Rosillo J, Cusco Cuzco C, et al. Miasis orbital severa causada por Cochliomyia hominivorax en la región andina de Ecuador. Rev Mex Oftalmol. 2016;90(1):43-7. doi: 10.1016/j.mexoft.2015.05.008
11. Altuna M, Hickner PV, Castro G, et al. New World screwworm myiasis in feral swine of Uruguay: One Health implications. Parasit Vectors. 2021;14(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04499-z
12. Alimsijah PI, Ang CY, Han HS. Old World Screwworm myiasis: First report of auricular Chrysomya bezziana myiasis in a dog in Singapore, Vet Parasitol (Amst). 2024;48(100991):100991. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.100991
13. Espinoza A, Quiñones-Silva J, Garay Ó. Miasis en cavidad oral por Cochliomyia hominivorax: reporte de un caso. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Pública. 2009;26(4):573-6.
14. Ruiz-Zapata JD, Figueroa-Gutiérrez LM, Mesa-Franco JA, et al. Umbilical myiasis by Cochliomyia hominivorax in an infant in Colombia. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;6(292). doi: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00292
15. Yadav S, Rawal G, Jeyaraman M. Traumatic cerebral myiasis in the elderly: The first reported case from India. Cureus. 2023. doi: 10.7759/cureus.48484
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Acerca del gusano barrenador del Nuevo Mundo. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2025. Disponible en: https://www.cdc.gov/new-world-screwworm/es/about/index.html
17. Piña-Tornés AA, Salvador-Fernández CL, Lindao-Camacho R, et al. Miasis cutánea masiva que simula invasión cerebral. Rev Med UI. 2016;29(2). doi: 10.18273/revmed.v29n2-2016012
18. Notejane M, Zabala C, Ibarra L, et al. Children hospitalized for myiasis in a reference center in Uruguay. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex. 2021;78(4). doi: 10.24875/bmhim.20000236
19. Sayeed A, Ahmed A, Sharma SC, et al. Ivermectin: A novel method of treatment of nasal and nasopharyngeal myiasis. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(Suppl 3):2019-24. doi: 10.1007/s12070-018-1444-y
20. Patel BC, Ostwal S, Sanghavi PR, et al. Management of malignant wound myiasis with Ivermectin, albendazole, and clindamycin (triple therapy) in advanced head and neck cancer patients: A prospective observational study. Indian J Palliat Care. 2018;24(4):459-64. doi: 10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_112_18
21. Norris AH, Shrestha NK, Allison GM, et al. 2018 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guideline for the management of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy. Clin Infect Dis. 2019;68(1):e1-35. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy745
22. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Overview of New World screwworm myiasis. Atlanta: CDC; February 24 2026. Disponible en: https://www.cdc.gov/myiasis/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html
23. Bendele KG, Guerrero FD, Cameron C, et al. The testes transcriptome of the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax. Data Brief. 2016;9:1141-6. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.11.026
24. Arp AP, Quintero G, Sagel A, et al. The microbiome of wild and mass-reared New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-04828-5
25. Bricarello PA, de Barros GP, Seugling J, et al. Ovicidal, larvicidal and oviposition repelling action of a nanoemulsion of citronella essential oil (Cymbopogon winterianus) on Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae). J Asia Pac Entomol. 2021;24(3):724-30. doi: 10.1016/j.aspen.2021.06.006
26. Secretaría de Salud. Manual de procedimientos estandarizados para la vigilancia epidemiológica de miasis por Cochliomyia Hominivorax en el humano. Ciudad de México: Secretaría de Salud; 2025. Disponible en: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/977291/Manual_Miasis_por_Cochliomyia_Hominivorax_en_Humano_2025.pdf
27. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria. Plan de emergencia para hacer frente a la presencia de gusano barrenador del ganado en el sur de México. Ciudad de México: SENASICA; 2023. Disponible en: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/954525/Plan_de_emergencia_GBG.pdf
28. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria. Análisis del impacto potencial del gusano barrenador en México. Ciudad de México: SENASICA; 2023. Disponible en: https://www. gob.mx/senasica/documentos/analisis-del-impacto-potencial-del-gusanobarrenador-en-mexico
Article Sidebar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors retain their copyright and grant the Revista Médica del IMSS the right of first publication. Articles are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which allows sharing as long as the author and the original source are properly credited.