M. Abdel-Dayem, R. Al Zou'bi, S. Aleesa, A. Katebeh-Bader, Z. Amr

Fig.1: Larvae of Lucilia sericata in the open wound after
changing the dressing
Discussion
Lucilia sericata is a common fly found in rural
areas close to animal farms. Larvae are primarily
deposited in carrions. The adult stage of the
common green bottle fly was found near the house
of the patient. In Kuwait, Lucilia sericata, was
recovered from nostrils of a patient treated for head
injury, while another patient with multiple fractures
of the pelvis and the right tibia showed myiasis
caused by Megaselia scalaris, while both were in a
hospital. (8) In the Czech Republic, larvae were found
in the oral cavity, nose, paranasal sinuses and
enucleated eye-socket in a serious road traffic
accident patient while in the hospital. (9) Cases of
aural myiasis due to Lucilia sericata were reported
from Poland and Iran. (10,11)
Wound infestation by larval stages of Lucilia
sericata after hospital discharge was reported on
several occasions. In Turkey, 97 larvae were
recovered from a wound for a breast cancer
patient. (7) Thirty-eight larvae were removed from a
hand wound from a patient in Iran. (6) In Bahía
Blanca, Argentina, out of 17 clinical cases of
myiasis, four were attributed to Lucila sericata,
causing variable forms of traumatic myiasis. (12) The
Green Bottle Fly was the major cause for wound
myiasis in urban and suburban areas in the United
States, and was most common among the homeless
and alcoholics, and peripheral vascular disease
patients. (13) More incidences were reviewed by
Derraik et al. (14)
Conclusion
This is the first report of wound infestation by the
common green bottle fly in Jordan. Care should be
Fig. 2: A. Third and fourth instar larvae of Lucilia sericata
recovered from the wound. B. Spiracles of Lucilia sericata
taken while changing wound dressings to prevent
infestation of open wounds by the larval stages of
this fly. Window screens in houses and hospitals
and control of the common green fly may reduce the
risk of this rare form of wound infestation.
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