[Preliminary evaluation of maggot (Diptera: Calliphoridae) therapy as a potential treatment for leishmaniasis ulcers]

Maggot debridement therapy has been widely used for treating a variety of scarred-over soft-tissue wounds. Published accounts record several illnesses in which treatment with larval therapy has promoted injury healing in conjunction with infection by bacterial pathogens resistant to conventional antibiotics.

An initial test of the maggot therapy was developed for cutaneous injuries produced by Leishmania amazonensis.

An experimental design based on an animal model with three replicates in Mesocricetus aureatus (Rodentia: Muridae) was used to evaluate size variation lesion before and after after larval therapy with Lucilia sericata maggots . The criteria used for therapy evaluation were lesion size, maggot application time, and presence or absence of edema and secretions.

Effective scarring and wound healing was observed after therapy with L. sericata larvae, i.e. 80% to 100% lesion area reduction after 12 hours.

The preliminary results suggest that fly maggots of L. sericata have a potential use as natural medical and veterinary alternative therapy for the cutaneous leishmaniasis.