Cutaneous myiasis in a Serbian traveller returning from Kenya

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous myiasis is an ectoparasitic disease caused by fly larvae. In non-endemic regions it is rare, often unfamiliar to clinicians and readily misdiagnosed. Case presentation: A 24-year-old Serbian traveller developed painful furuncular lesions on the thigh after returning from Kenya. The lesions were initially treated as insect bites with intramuscular corticosteroid, antihistamines and topical betamethasone–gentamicin. Spontaneous expulsion of a larva led to the recognition of myiasis. Methods and results: Three third-instar (L3) larvae were surgically removed. Morphological features and mitochondrial cox1 sequencing identified Cordylobia anthropophaga. Genetic analysis conf..