Parasites - Myiasis

Myiasis is the infection of a fly larva (maggot) in human tissue. This occurs in tropical and subtropical areas. Myiasis is rarely acquired in the United States; people typically get the infection when they travel to tropical areas in Africa and South America. People traveling with untreated and open wounds are more at risk for getting myiasis. Fly larvae need to be surgically removed by a medical professional.

Images: Left to Right: Close-up of the anterior end of a larva, showing the mandibles and one of the anterior spiracles. Adult of Dermatobia hominis, the human bot fly. Four larvae of Dermatobia hominis, removed from a human host. (Credit: DPDx, Georgia Museum of Natural History)