title: Traumatic Myiasis: A Neglected Disease in a Changing World.
abstract: Traumatic myiasis, the parasitic infestation by fly larvae in traumatic lesions of the tissues of living vertebrates, is a serious medical condition in humans and a welfare and economic issue in domestic animals. New molecular studies are providing insights into its evolution and epidemiology. Nevertheless, its incidence in humans is generally underreported, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Myiasis in domestic animals has been studied more extensively, but continuous management is difficult and expensive. A key concern is the inadvertent introduction and global spread of agents of myiasis into nonendemic areas, facilitated by climate change and global transport. The incursion of the New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) into Libya is the most notable of many such range shifts and demonstrates the potential risks of these parasites and the costs of removing them once established in a geographic area. Nevertheless, the insect agents of myiasis can be of societal benefit to forensic science and in medicine as an aid to wound treatment (larval therapy).
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom; email: m.hall@nhm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martin J R
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom; email: richard.wall@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom; email: j.r.stevens@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jamie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D057231:Climate Change; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D009198:Myiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D014186:Transportation
keywords: Calliphoridae; Sarcophagidae; screwworm fly, blow fly; zoonosis