Nasal myiasis in a dog due to Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae)

Authors: Johnston C, Heath ACG
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 49, Issue 4, pp 164, Aug 2001
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Companion animal, Dog, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Ear/nose/throat, Parasites - external, Respiratory system
Article class: Correspondence

---

Abstract: Oestrus ovis or nasal bot-fly, has larvae that are deposited as the first instar and develop in the nasal fossae and cranial sinuses of sheep, goats and some wild ruminants (Zumpt, 1965). Once the larvae have matured they are sneezed out and pupariate in the soil. Occasionally, humans are affected by ocular myiasis (ophthalmomyiasis) and more rarely, nasal myiasis (Macdonald et al, 1999). The presence of O. ovis in dogs is also a rare occurrence (Zumpt, 1965) and in such non-typical hosts it is usual for development of the larvae to proceed no further than the first instar. Exceptions have been noted in dogs, where third instar larvae were expelled (Lucientes et al, 1997) or recovered from the nasal cavity at necropsy (Lujan et al, 1998). In New Zealand, O. ovis is common among sheep (Kettle, 1973), rare in humans (Macdonald et al, 1999) and not previously recorded from dogs. Here we report on the recovery of a first instar larva from a sheep dog.

---