TITLE:
Cutaneous Myiasis: Is Lucilia cuprina Safe and Acceptable for Maggot Debridement Therapy?
AUTHORS:
Howard Joesphia Kingu, Simon Kamande Kuria, Martin Herrer Villet, Jane Nthekeleng Mkhize, Adupa Dhaffala, John Michael Iisa
KEYWORDS:
Maggots; Blow Flies; Lucilia cuprina; Mthatha
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.2 No.2,
June
22,
2012
ABSTRACT: Preservation of viable tissue is important in wound management. It is achieved by small, incremental removal of devitalised, necrotic and infected tissues. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is used in septic necrotic wounds that fail to respond to conventional modalities. MDT has relied on Lucilia cuprina, which consumes only necrotic tissues, as opposed to Lucilia cuprina, which devours both flesh and necrotic tissues. Recent findings have shown that L. cuprina consumes mainly necrotic and very small amounts of viable tissues and may be used in MDT where L. sericata is very rare or absent. Here we describe wound healing in a patient from rural South Africa with cutaneous myiasis. Our findings agree with workers who indicated that L. cuprina could be used in MDT.