Some notes on medically important flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from India

2009·2.8 MB·

by  Meenakshi Bharti

Halteres,Vol.1,No.1,2009
Some notes on medically importantflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from
India
Meenakshi Bharti
DepartmentofZoology,PunjabiUniversity,Patiala-147002,Punjab.
(email: [email protected])
(www.forensicentomologyindia.com)
Abstract
Many cases of myiasis are reported every year from India, but in most of these
cases the correct identification of fly maggots is lacking. Moreover, calliphorids
and other families of Diptera like Sarcophagidae, Muscidae are vectors of number
of diseases like cholera, poliomyelitis, typhoid fever, leprosy, tuberculosis etc.
Keeping in view the medical importance of these flies, an attempt is made to enlist
the calliphorid species from India.
Keywords: Myiasis, Calliplioridae, India.
Introduction
Myiasis is usually dealt with from the Include those species which lay their eggs or
stand pointoftissuesand organs invaded, and deposittheir larvae in the living tissues.
classified under rhinal, aural, oral, ocular, Facultative (Semi-specific myiasis producing
cutaneous, subcutaneous, vaginalandgastro- flies): Include specieswhich normally laytheir
intestinal myiasis. This method ofdealing with eggs or deposit their larvae in decomposing
the subject is notonly unscientific but leads to animal or vegetable matter, but occasionally
endless confusion, as the same larva may be placethem in living tissue.
found in more than one organ and in wounds Accidental myiasis producingflies: Include
and cuts ofall kinds.Asto mention, the larvae those specieswhich normally laytheireggsor
of Ctirysomya bezziana, the old world screw- larvaeinstaleordecomposingvegetablematter.
worm fly may befound in all the above named Many human food stuffsare suitable breeding
cavities and in all forms of cutaneous and ground for these flies, and if these are not
subcutaneous myiasis. The subjectofmyiasis properlyprotected, washed orcooked, become
should be best studied from the standpoint of infected and the larvae are accidentally
the flies themselves, which may be classified ingested, and are ableto live in the intestines.
as follows: Many cases of myiasis have also been
Obligatory (Specific myiasis producing flies): reported from India (Bapat, 2000; Mahipal et
Somenotesonmedicallyimportantflies(Diptera:Calliphoridae)fromIndia 67
a/., 2002; Sehgal et al., 2002) but in most of arrangement of spines. The twelfth segment,
these cases the correct identification ofthefly however, showsseveralfeaturesoftaxonomic
maggots is lacking. Long listsofnamesofflies interest, the mostimportantbeingtheposterior
are given in the books of medicine, but no spiracle. In the first instar these are simple,
mention ismadeastohowthevariouslarvaeof kidney shaped structures, whereas in the
Indian species could be identified. For this secondand third instarsthespiracleconsistof
reason very little effort is made by medical anouterheavilysclerotized ring, the peritreme,
practitionerto rearthe larval forms intoadults. whichsurroundsthespiracularapertures. Inthe
Apart from causing myiasis, the flies second instar the peritreme is incomplete at
belonging to families Calliphoridae, theventralend and therearetwoapertures. In
Sarcophagidae and Muscidae are vectors/ thethird instartheperitreme iscompleteanda
transmitters of diseases like poliomyelitis, button is present at the ventral end, which
cholera, typhoid fever, bacillary dysentery, representstheecdysialscarofthesecondinstar
trachoma virus, enteric infections, leprosy, spiracle(Kurahashi, 1985). Threeaperturesare
tuberculosis, etc.(Patton, 1922; Zumpt, 1965; present in the third instar(Fig.1c).
Greenberg, 1971,1973). Inaddition, therearepresentthefourfoci
Keeping in view the medical importance ofa 'sun-ray' structure; theseare presumedto
ofthese flies, an attempt is made to enlistthe strengthenthespiracle. Spiracledistancefactor
calliphorid species. (SDF) isofutmostvaluein distinguishing larvae
atspecies level. It is calculated bydividing the
Results and Discussion distance betweenthespiracles bythegreatest
Morphology ofthe larvae diameterofonespiracle.
Acalliphorid larva isgenerallyidentifiedand Last segment also possesses seven
distinguishedfrom otherdipteran larvaeonthe pairs of papillae on its posterior surface
basisoffollowing characters: (numbered PI to P7). The position of P2 in
Atypicalcalliphorid larvahastwelvesegments; relation to PI and P3 is of taxonomic
onecephalic, threethoracicandeightabdominal value(Fig.ld).
segments(Fig.la). Currently no identification key to
The second segment bears an anterior immature stages of Indian calliphorids is
spiracleoneithersideinsecondandthird instar. available, so the above mentioned diagnostic
It is a fan shaped multi-lobed respiratory characterswill helpthe medical practitionerto
structure which represents the sclerotized distinguish the calliphorid larva from other
anteriorendofthelargetracheal branch (Keilin, dipteran larvae.
1944). The number of lobes is of systematic
use as each species posses a limited range; Notes on Indian Calliphorids
for e.g. Calliphora vomitoria possesses 9-12 Chrysomyamegacephala(Fabricius, 1794)
lobes in the third instar where as Calliphora Musca megacephala: Fab., 1794,Syst.
vicina larvae possess 5-8 lobes(Fig.1b). Ent.,4:317
The first and second larval segments Chrysomya megacephala: Seguy, 1928,
together contain the cephalopharyngeal Encycl.Ent.,B II Dipt.,4:101
skeleton. Thefollowing ninesegmentsshowfew Chrysomyamegacephala: James, 1977:542.
distinguishing features other than the Type locality: Guinea
Halteres,Vol.1,No.1,2009 68
Distribution: Pantropical, widespread inOriental regions: Guam, Marshall Islands, Hawaii
region: India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Islands, Indonesia, PNG, Vanuatu, New
Indonesia (Java,Maluku,Timor); widespread in Caledonia, Fiji &Australia.
Australian and Oceanian region.
Bionomics:
Bionomics: Larvae ofthis fly are commonly known
This fly is a common scavenger in as 'hairy' maggots as the first and seventh
lndia(Bharti & Singh,2003) and sometimes abdominalsegmentsbearseveralpairsoffinger-
producesmyiasisofmananddomesticanimals like papillae. They are predacious in nature
(Bakaretal. 1983).Adultsaregenerallyfound and attack other larvae of Calliphoridae,
,
ongarbageandareattractedtodecaying meat Sarcophagidaeand Muscidaefoundinthesame
and human excrement. Itcould befound atan breeding place (Kurahashi et al., 1997; Bharti
elevation of up to 2200m (SeniorWhite etal., & Singh, 2003). This species is known to be
1940; Kurahashi&Thapa, 1994; Sukontason et involved in secondarymyiasis.
a/., 2006).
ChrysomyabezzianaVil[eneuve,1914
Chrysomyarufifacies(IVIacquart,1843) Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve, 1914: 430.
Lucilia rufifacies: Macquart, 1843:303(146). Type locality: Africa
Typelocality: Nouvelle-Hollande[Australia] Chrysomyabezziana: Kurahashi, 1971:3
Lucilia orientalis: Macquart, 1843:302(145). Chrysomyabezziana: James, 1977: 541
Type locality:Pondicherry,India Distribution: India; widely distributed in the
Lucilia pavonina: Schiner, 1868:305. Type orientalregion, including NewGuinea(IrianJaya
locality: KarNicobarandTellnschong & PNG) and BismarckArch.
Somomyia barbata: Bigot, 1877:39. Type
locality:India Bionomics:
Chrysomya cordieri: Seguy, 1925:303.Type ThisspeciesIscommonlyknownas"Old
locality: Sockaboemi, Java [Indonesia] Worldscrew-worm"fly. Itisan obligateparasite
Chrysomya rufifacies: Senior-White, (specific myiasis producing flies) and unlike
Aubertin&Smart, 1940:141 Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya
Chrysomya albiceps rufifacies: Kurahashi, rufifacies never breeds in the dead bodies of
1971:3 animals. The larvae are commonly found in
Chrysomyarufifacies: James, 1977:542 many diseased tissues and organs of the
Chrysomya rufifacies: InderSingh, Kurahashi human body and particularly in the nose and
&Kano, 1979:11 accessory sinuses. These flies generally
Chrysomya rufifacies: Kurahashi & Thapa, ovipositon fresh wounds and are attracted by
1994:224 smellofblood, butneverdeposititseggorlarvae
Distribution: India, Nepal, Srilanka, South ontheunbroken skin. Eyeinfestation has been
China, Thailand, reported bynumberofscientists(Patton, 1922;
Malaysia(Malaya,Borneo),Singapore,Indonesia Zumpt, 1965; Greenberg, 1971, 1973). C.
(Java,Maluku), Philippines; Palaearcticregion: bezzianaisoneofthemostimportantproducers
China, Korea, Japan. Australian & Oceanian ofmyiasis in man and domesticanimals in the
Somenotesonmedicallyimportantflies(Diptera:Calliphoridae)fromIndia
old World tropical countries (Spradbery & for transmitting bacillary dysentery, typhoid
Vanniasingham, 1980; Zahedi &Jeffery, 1982; fever, poliomyelitisetc.
Bakaret al., 1983; Vellayan etal., 1984). Luciliasericata(l\/leigen,1826)
Musca sericata: Meigen, Sitz. Beschr. V, p.53,
Calliphorapatton/Aubertln,1931 1826
Calliphora pattoni: Aubertin, 1931. Ann. Mag. Lucilia basalis: Macquart, Mem. Soc. Royal
Nat. Hist., (10)8:615 Agric. Arts. Lille, p.305, 1842
Calliphora pattoni: Tumrasvin, Kurahashi and LuciliaflavipennisMacquart(nec.kram.), Mem.
Kano, 1976, Bull. Tokyo Med. Dent. Univ., 23: Soc. Roy. Agric. Arts, Lille, R296, 1842; id.,
211-216. Type locality: India, Darjeeling Kipt. Exot. iii, p.139. 1842
Distribution: India (West Bengal), Nepal, Musca lagyra: Walker., List. Dipt Brit. Mus.
Thailand, Burma andTaiwan. IV. p.885, 1849
Lucilia barberi: Townsend, Smiths. Misc. Li,
Bionomics: p.121,1908
This species is usually found in Lucilia girauiti: Townsend. smiths. Misc. Li.
evergreen forests, alpineflowersand fewflies R121. 1908
are found on garbage piles around human Type locality: Europe
dwellings.AccordingtoSenior-Whiteetal., 1940 Distribution: Cosmopolitan.
thisspeciesislarviparous.Theflyisresponsible
fortransmission ofvariousbacteriaforbacillary Bionomics:
dysentery, typhoid fever and other There is a large amountof literature on
salmonelloses, poliomyelitis etc. and for this insect in connection with its habit of
causing facultative myiasis. 'blowing' sheep (i.e. to lay eggs). Much
investigatoryworks has also been done on its
Calliphora vomitoria(Linnaeus,1758) physio - chemical ecology. In temperate
Musca vomitoria: Linnaeus, 1758:595. Type climatestheflyiscomparativelyharmless, but
locality: Sweden in Africa and Australia it is one ofthe species
Calliphora vomitoria: James, 1964: 171 most intimately connected with the blowing of
Distribution: Cosmopolitan, widespread in wool, and is a serious pest (Senior White et
Palaearctic region: Canary Islands, Eurasia, al., 1940). Larvae are usually scavengers but
Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Mongolia, China, frequently invade the injured human tissue. In
Korea and Japan. Australasian and Oceanian mostinstancesthedamagesproduced bythese
regions: Hawaiian Islands, Australia, New larvae aretraumatic, such as extension ofthe
Zealand. Widespread in Nearctic and pre-existingwounds(Kurahashi. 1997).
Neotropical regions.
Luciliaillustris(IVIeigen,1826)
Bionomics: Musca illustris: Meigen, Sitz. Beschr. V. p.54,
Adults are commonly found in 1826
mountainous areas up to 3800m. Males are Muscaparvula: Meigen Sitz. Beschr. V. p.55.
,
frequently found in evergreen forests, but 1826
females are abundant on human faeces, Muscaequestris: Meigen, Sitz. Beschr. V, p.57.
garbage piles, and decomposed materials 1826
around humandwellings. Thisflyisresponsible
Halteres.Vol.1.No.1.2009 70
Lucilialepida: Robineau-Desvoidy, Myodaires, Bionomics:
p.453, 1830 Thisspecies is responsibleforcausing enteric
Lucilia fraternal: Maquart, ibid. myiasis in man. Generallyinhabitsfilthyplaces
Muscamuralis: Walker, ListDipt. Brit. Museum andthereforecarries pathogenicorganismsto
Lucilia Caesar Hough (necl.)Zool. Bull. P.288, human food such as polio virus. Sterile larvae
1899; ofthis speciesand ofLucilia sericataare used
Townsend (necl.), Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. xxi, in maggotdebridementtherapy(MDT)forcuring
p.121, 1928. wounds.
Type locality: Europe
Distribution: India (Himalaya), Burma, China, Acknowledgements
NorthAmerica. Financial assistance rendered by CSIR, New
Delhi vide grant no. 8220 is gratefully
acknowledged.
Fig:1.Morphologyofgeneralizedthirdinstarlarva,a,entirelarva(AS,Antertorsptracle;MH,mouth
hooks;PS,posteriorsptracle);b.anteriorspiracle;c,posteriorspiracles{A,apertureofslit;8,button;BS,
blisterstructure;tPf,interna)peritrennalprojection;IS,intermediatestructure;P,peritreme);d,
posteriorviewofI2thysegmentofthirdinstar^arva(A,anus;AL,anallobe;Pl-p7,posteriorpapillae;S,
posteriorspiracle)
Somenotesonmedicallyimportantflies(Diptera:Caliiphoridae)fromIndia 71
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