A Case-Report of Lucilia illustris Larvae on a Poisonous Mushroom in Shiraz, 2018

Background: Lucilia illustris (Meigen 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a cosmopolitan species that commonly colonizes carcasses and occasionally acts as parasites of humans or livestock, making it an insect of significant importance in forensic, medical, and veterinary entomology. L. illustris is considered a synanthropic species and has a close relation with human settlements and with a necrophagous insect from the family Calliphoridae. L. illustris has a metallic blue-green coloration and three larval stages. Researches have shown that this species causes gastrointestinal myiasis in humans. Gastrointestinal myiasis in humans is caused by dipterous larvae which are caused by accidentally swallowing of contaminated uncooked food or drink by eggs or larvae of flies.Objectives: The aim of the study was to report an uncommon case of L. illustris on a poisonous mushroom in Shiraz.Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in Shiraz city, south west of Iran (33°52 E and 39°29 N), and its approximately 1500 meters a.s.l. The specimens were collected directly from the garden near the Namazi hospital by using hand collection. Collected specimens were transferred to the Medical Entomology Laboratory of School of Health of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and were preserved in 70% (v/v) ethanol then were dissected and identified by using the Krzysztof Szpila illustration key and Olympus CX41RF microscope.Results: In this study 54 larvae of stage 3 were identified that all of them were L. illustris.Conclusion: This is the first report of L. illustris species on poisonous mushroom in Iran. Due to the low cost of cultivation and maintenance of these mushrooms, it is recommended to use this mushrooms for cultivation of this species. In addition, because L. illustris caused intestinal myasis therefore, control of L. illustris should be health workers attention.

Keywords:

Lucilia illustris , Calliphoridae , Poisonous mushroom , Iran