ORIGIN OF MYIASIS

Abstract

Blow ies (Calliphoridae -Diptera) , crucial participants In the mammalian decomposition and have been known as the causative agents of myiasis by laying eggs on human or other vertebrates' necrotic or living tissue . This study- prompted by scientic observations that blow y behavior is strongly mediated by visual cues and not by olfactory cues- attempts to answer a basic question: What is the origin of myiasis? Gut and decomposer microbes may be endogenous and share a common ancestor: human gut stem cells consistent with the evidence that human genetics shape gut bacteria, meconium is not sterile and decomposer microbes emerge in corpses in diverse environments including sterile soil or suicide victims by hanging. An experimental study and diverse observations suggest that blowy eggs may develop from carrion through pathways independent of oviposition. Also of importance, myiasis may develop through dual pathways : oviposition by blowies or evolution from decomposer microbes. This dual origin is consistent with Darwinian theory which suggests that all species share a common ancestor - the rst microorganisms - and all species may have two possible origins, reproduction or evolution from a less complex organism. The above observations require further scientic validation yet they may offer novel therapeutic avenues to combat burn wound and opportunistic infections that may be endogenous