Maggot debridement therapy as primary tool to treat chronic wound of animals

Abstract

Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is a safe, effective, and controlled method of healing of chronic wounds by debridement and disinfection. In this therapy live, sterile maggots of green bottle fly, Lucilia (Phaenicia) sericata are used, as they prefer necrotic tissues over healthy for feeding. Since centuries, MDT is used in human beings to treat chronic wounds. Lately, MDT came out as a potent medical aid in animals. In animals, although, this therapy is still limited and clinical studies are few. However, with the increasing antibiotic resistance and chronic wound infections in veterinary medicine, maggot therapy may even become the first line of treatment for some infections. This paper will present a brief discussion of MDT and its role in veterinary medicine that may add one more treatment method to utilize in non-healing wounds of animals and overcome the use of amputation and euthanasia. The objective of this review paper is to assemble relevant literature on maggot therapy to form a theoretical foundation from which further steps toward clinical use of maggot therapy in animals for chronic wounds can be taken.

Keywords

• chronic wounds
• debridement
• Lucilia sericata
• maggots
• maggot debridement therapy