Myiasis, an Overlooked Disorder in Livestock and Poultry, Mostly Caused by the Old World Screw-worm Fly, Chrysomyia bezziana: An Analytical Review from an Indian Perspective

Myiasis or flystrike is the infestation of live tissues of hosts by larvae of Dipteran flies. The flies responsible for this condition are referred to as blow flies or screw worm flies. This phenomena is distributed worldwide, especially in poor socio-economic regions of tropical and subtropical countries. The family calliphoridae (Diptera) is primarily known for its synanthropic, necrophagous and myiasis-causing species. Chrysomyia bezziana, the old world Screw worm fly, is the commonest calliphorid fly, the larvae of which is responsible for causing myiasis in livestock and poultry in India. The principal hosts of C. bezziana are large domesticated animals and native wildlife and occasionally humans. In animals, it causes morbidity and in extreme cases, death. C. bezziana, is one of the most important myiasis-causing flies that parasitize warm-blooded animals in the Eastern Hemisphere. These flies are also forensically significant. The review tries to put light on the overall impact of myiasis in livestock and poultry with an emphasis on the Indian scenario. Extensive review of literature was carried out with the help of websites viz. google scholar, academia.edu etc. and also hardcopy of various books as mentioned in the reference section were consulted. C. bezziana, is one of the most important myiasis-causing flies that parasitize warm-blooded animals in the eastern hemisphere. These flies are also forensically significant. The review tries to put light on the overall impact of myiasis in livestock and poultry with an emphasis on the Indian scenario.