[01] Akpan Samuel S., Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.

A nine year old boy presented with a furuncular swelling on one buttock with a complaint of pain and itching around the region of the lesion. With a gentle manual pressing of the swelling, a yellowish-white larva emerged. The larva was macerated in 10% potassium hydroxide solution over boiling water for 10 minutes to examine the posterior spiracles. Using the characteristic morphologic features (viz. an indistinct button, an incomplete peritreme and sinuous slits), the larva was identified as that of Cordylobia anthropophaga. This result confirmed a diagnosis of cutaneous myiasis. Conditions of squalor, poverty and ignorance facilitate the transmission of eggs and larvae from Calliphorid flies on to the human body. Awareness, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation are preventive measures which can curb the spread of this parasitosis.

Awareness, Cordylobia, Myiasis, Parasitosis, Swelling

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