Abstract :
The present paper reports the clinical findings in myiosis in 33 sheep and in 11 dogs in
the flocks of the affected sheep. Moreover, it presents a protocol for treatment of genital
myiosis. Location of lesions in affected sheep was as follows: in 16 animals (9 rams, 7
ewes) at the genitalia, in 6 animals in one of their ear canals, in 5 animals at the hoofs in
one of their legs, in 3 animals on the back, in 3 animals on the neck. In the genitalia of
rams, findings were difficult or partial exteriorising of penis, markedly thickened prepuce
with fistulae along the tissue and presence of dipteran larvae in the subcutaneous tissue.
In the genitalia of ewes, findings included vulvar oedema, hyperaemia and/or petechiae
in the vaginal wall, muco-haemorrhagic discharge, 2–3 subcutaneous fistulae around the
vulva and presence of dipteran larvae in the vagina or in the subcutaneous fistulae around
the vulva. Location of lesions in affected dogs was as follows: in 6 animals on the neck,
in 5 animals in one of their legs and in 1 animal in the tail. Larvae were collected and
identified by using classical parasitological techniques; in 32 sheep cases and in all (11)
dog cases, they were identified as Wohlfahrtia magnifica larvae, whilst in one sheep case
they were identified as Lucilia sericata larvae (this being the first recovery of Lucilia sp. from
myiosis in Greece). In cases of genital myiosis, treatment included, initially, mechanical
removal of the larvae by using medical forceps whilst massaging the affected area; this was
followed by thorough cleansing of the area with 2% chlorhexidine solution (1:40 in water);
subsequently, moxidectin 1% inj. sol. (0.3 mg per kg bodyweight) and flunixin meglumine
inj. sol. (2.2 mg/kg bodyweight) were administered. The procedure was repeated 8–10 days
later. Ewes with genital infestation were also prescribed a 7-day long course of an injectable
broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. In all cases, all larvae were successfully removed with
the above treatment. However, in 5 animals (3 rams, 2 ewes), lesions, which had developed
before start of treatment, were so extensive that it was considered that they would cause
difficulties in subsequent matings or lambings; hence, it was advised to cull these animals
