Myiasis
- Pronunciation
- /my-AH-sis/
- Category
- Physiology
- Singular
- Myiasis
- Plural
- Myiases
Definition
Infestation of live human or animal tissue by fly larvae (maggots) that grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue.
Etymology
From Greek 'myia', meaning 'fly', and '-iasis', a suffix used in medicine to denote a condition or disease.
Example
The veterinarian diagnosed the sheep with myiasis after discovering maggots in a wound on its leg.
Synonyms
- Fly strike
- Maggot infestation
Related Terms
Usage Notes
Myiasis can be classified based on the location of the infection, such as cutaneous, nasopharyngeal, or gastrointestinal myiasis.