Cutaneous Myiasis in Traveler Returning from Ethiopia

To the Editor: Myiasis is an infestation of human tissue by the larval stage of fl ies of the order Diptera.There are 3 clinical manifestations of myiasis: localized furuncular myiasis typically caused by Dermatobia hominis, Cordylobia anthropophaga, Wohlfahrtia vigil, and Cuterebra spp.; creeping dermal myiasis caused by Gasterophilus spp.and Hypoderma spp.; and wound and body cavity myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax, Chrysomya bezziana, and Wohlfahrtia magnifi ca (1).The Tumbu fl y (C.anthropophaga) and the human botfl y (D. hominis) are the most common vectors for myiasis in Africa and the tropical Western Hemisphere, respectively (2).The genus Cordylobia also contains 2 less common species (C.ruandae and C. rodhaini) (3).Infection with C. rodhaini (Lund's fl y) is less common.A review of the literature showed only 7 reports of C. rodhani myiasis in travelers from countries such as Australia (3), Italy (4), Canada (5), France (6), and Israel (7).All travelers were infested after travel to eastern and western regions of central Africa.In humans, the skin lesion starts as a painful red papule that gradually enlarges and develops into a furuncle.