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Arthropods affecting the human eye
Rosario Panadero-Fontán1, Domenico Otranto2
1Departamento de Patología Animal (INVESAGA Group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
Veterinary Parasitology
|January 27, 2015
Summary
Ocular arthropod infestations, including ophthalmomyiasis, can affect the human eye. Prompt diagnosis and physician knowledge are crucial for managing these parasitic infections, especially with increasing travel.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Parasitology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Ocular arthropod infestations involve eye parasitization by insects, causing conditions like ophthalmomyiasis, demodicosis, and phthiriasis.
- Larvae from Oestridae, Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae families are common causes of human ocular infestations.
- Reduced use of macrocyclic lactones in cattle has decreased infestations by certain Oestridae species, impacting human cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the significance of arthropod infestations affecting the human eye.
- To emphasize the importance of timely and accurate diagnosis for favorable prognoses.
- To underscore the need for increased physician awareness regarding clinical symptoms and management, particularly in non-endemic areas.
Main Methods:
- Review of causative agents and clinical presentations of ocular arthropod infestations.
- Discussion of diagnostic approaches, including serological and molecular methods.
- Analysis of epidemiological trends, including the impact of veterinary practices and international travel.
Main Results:
- Ophthalmomyiasis is frequently caused by larvae of Oestridae, Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae.
- Veterinary practices have influenced the prevalence of specific human ocular infestations.
- International travel contributes to the rise of myiasis cases in non-endemic regions.
Conclusions:
- Prompt diagnosis, utilizing serological and molecular tests, is critical for managing ocular myiasis.
- Physicians require comprehensive knowledge of ocular infestations to prevent misdiagnosis and complications.
- Increased global travel necessitates heightened vigilance for arthropod-related eye conditions in diverse geographical settings.
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