Furuncular myiasis caused by Dermatobia hominis in a domestic cat – case report

Abstract

Dermatobiosis is defined as a parasitosis caused by the larval stage of the human botfly Dermatobia hominis, often observed in large animals but considered unusual in pet animals. The aim of the report is to describe a naturally infested cat treated in a reference dermatology service with clinical presentation similar to neoplasia or abscess. A six-year-old spayed male Brazilian Shorthair cat with outdoor access, from the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state, was treated for two nodules, one located in the sacral region and one in the tail. The patient was restrained, and digital compression of the lesions resulted in expulsion of D. hominis larvae, accompanied by a purulent secretion. The removal of larvae and use of antiseptic at the site resolved the furuncular myiasis. It is possible to assume that the parasitism reported here resulted from the animal’s living arrangement, in a rural area with cattle parasitized by D. hominis. We conclude that parasitism by D. hominis should be present on the list of differential diagnoses of cats with nodules and that mechanical removal associated with the use of antiseptics is resolutive.

Keywords

• cat, dermatology, ectoparasite.