Myiasis as an Entomologic Menace in Slaughterhouses

Background: Myiasis is described as the infestation of human and vertebrate animals with dipterous larvae . It is an important hygienic and entomologic problem in slaughterhouses. Fars province is one of the most important livestock areas in Iran. Myiasis cases of slaughtered cattle were collected and identified from slaughterhouses in Shiraz, Fars province.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the dipterous larvae that caused myiasis among slaughtered cattle.Materials and Methods: Maggots were collected from the remains of slaughtered cattle in Shiraz city of Fars province. The larvae were washed with distilled water, then killed in ethanol 70%. They were dissected and identified according to the morphological characters of the anterior and posterior spiracles and cephalopharyngial skeleton, respectively.Results: In the present study, 122 cases were collected and identified. Samples belonged to the families of Calliphoridae (104, 85%) and Sarcophagidae (18, 15%). The species of Lucillia sericata was the most frequent species .Conclusion: There are many reports of myiasis in wild and domestic ruminants in the world. Calliphoridae are among the first flies associated to decomposing animal tissues. These results show that L. sericata is a necrophage fly that is attracted to remains of slaughtered cattle. Myiasis is a sanitary and common problem in slaughterhouses where control procedures should be implemented.

کلیدواژه ها:

Myiasis ، Slaughterhouses ، Calliphoridae