EXTERNAL OPHTHALMOMYIASIS CAUSED BY SHEEP BOTFLY (OESTRUS OVIS) LARVA: A REPORT OF 8 CASES

Myiasis is the infestation of tissues and organs of animals or man by fly larvae. Ophthalmic myiasis has been reported of various world regions. In this study we present the clinical manifestations with ophthalmomyiasis caused by Oestrus ovis larvae in 8 patients from Fars Province in southern Iran. All of the patients were farmers, in close contact with sheep and goat. All patients presented with severe conjunctivitis. The larvae were observed in the bulbar conjunctiva, and following their removal, the symptoms of eye inflammation improved in a few hours.