First Record of Indigenous Furuncular Myiasis Due to Cordylobia anthropophaga in Unusual Ecologic Niche, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Cordylobia anthropophaga, one of the known furuncular myiasis-associated fly, has long been limited to the Afro-tropical region. In Saudi Arabia, Southwest region, part of the Afro-tropical region, has been considered the sole endemic region of C. anthropophaga outside Africa. Aim: The aim of current study was to investigate suspected cases of myiasis recorded among 7 different children belonging to 3 different households in Makkah province, Midwest of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: The cases were referred to the Maternity and Children Hospital on 3 different occasions extended from September 2014 to February 2016. All cases were subjected to history taking and clinical examination. Suspected maggots were recovered from associated lesions and were subjected to thorough parasitological and taxonomic examination. Results: Clinical examination revealed suspected lesions of cutaneous myiasis in different parts of children bodies. History taking revealed no past history of wounds or travelling to Southwest region or tropical sub-Saharan Africa. Based on shape, size, cuticle spine pattern and the posterior spiracles, suspected maggots were identified as 3rd instars of C. anthropophaga. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge the current study is the first record of indigenously acquired cases of C. anthropophaga-induced furuncular myiasis in Midwest region of Saudi Arabia. This interesting finding might denote a remarkable change in the geographic epidemiology of C. anthropophaga with the first known incidence of autochthonous transmission pattern outside its conventional Afro-tropical endemic region. Indeed, further investigations are required to confirm this interesting record.