Larval therapy is a method of cleansing purulent and gangrenous wounds, known since ancient times. However, it would be wrong to assume that you can take any larvae and fearlessly plant them in a wound on the body. The technique requires knowledge and experience in use. Therefore, if a patient has worms in his wound, a visit to the doctor should be mandatory and prompt.
Larval therapy – what is it?
Research conducted by scientists has proven that the use of maggots of a certain type, worms in cleansing wound surfaces is a progressive treatment method. The time spent on cleaning is up to 5-6 days, but the application traditional methods allows you to achieve a similar result only on the 90th day. Doctors recommend the widespread use of the technique, for example, in the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus.
Treatment with maggots is a fairly forgotten old remedy. It was used both in ancient times and during the Second World War, but the advent of antibiotics led to a decrease in the popularity of therapy. Today the technique is in demand among adherents alternative therapy in our country, and also as an adjuvant in European clinics.
The essence of the technique is that maggots eat only dead tissue and do not touch healthy areas. This is what attracted the attention of specialists. The opinion of professionals is clear: the use of sterile larvae and maggots of flies can significantly speed up the cleaning process, and therefore the healing of wounds. Plus, there are no compatibility issues medicines, and also reduces the risk of wound infection by bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.
What larvae are treated?
Larvae of common flies are used to sterilize and eliminate tissue necrosis. These unattractive worms can work wonders. Maggot larvae, applied to the wound, eat away and eat away the necrosis with such skill that is inaccessible to some surgeons.
However, despite all the positive aspects, not every patient will be able to undergo the course of therapy. Allowing there to be worms in the wound means having fortitude and not suffering from disgust. The method is simple: sterile maggots are applied to a wound with necrosis and pus. The top crust must then harden so that the worms can eat away the dead flesh. After all, the wound is opened, the larvae are removed and you can wait for the healing of the flesh.
The principle of action of maggots on the patient’s body
Scientists have experimentally found that the ability of fly larvae to heal wounds is caused by suppression of the body's immune response. A substance secreted by fly larvae when combined with blood serum causes a decrease in protein levels. In some cases, the concentration is reduced by almost 99%. A detailed study of blood samples showed: mucus components break down complement C3, C4, which leads to suppression of the immune response and faster healing wound Moreover, the healing process is not burdened by purulent inflammation of healthy tissue, swelling, swelling and focal redness are completely absent - characteristic features started infectious process in healthy tissue.
Fact! The mucous substance does not lose its useful qualities even when boiled or kept for a month - this property ensures the effectiveness of larval therapy even in the case of particularly advanced gangrenous, purulent processes.
Today, doctors successfully use the antibiotic seraticin, isolated from the mucus of maggots, which is used to treat trophic ulcers, bedsores.
Treatment technique
To get the right maggots, the flies are kept in a sterile, enclosed area where they can lay their larvae. The worms are then placed in bags and only then can the “live medicine” be used. The effects of worms on the human body are as follows:
- sterilization of focal wounds;
- stimulation of healing;
- cleansing by eating necrotic areas;
- the secreted substance allantoin stimulates the healing process.
Fact! Allantoin, secreted from the urea of the larvae, is also found in cow urine. That is why in villages they still wash wounds with evaporated cattle urine.
It should be noted that seraticin, an antibiotic contained in the mucus of worms, resists 12 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, destroys coli and bacteria that cause pseudomembranous colitis.
Larval therapy includes several mandatory stages:
- breeding larvae of a certain type of fly (green fly, blowfly);
- obtaining eggs with their subsequent washing and sterilization;
- hatching larvae;
- placing worms in the wound;
- opening the wound and removing maggots.
Before placing worms into a wound, they are forced to starve, so placing larvae in a wound for more than a day is not recommended. However, sometimes the time of therapeutic effect is calculated individually. It all depends on the severity, size of the affected area, type of wound and presence purulent inflammation. For example, if the lesion is chronic, the bed is covered with disinfected larvae for 4 days. The procedure can be repeated several times, achieving complete cleaning of the wound bed and a speedy recovery of the patient.
Interesting! Sometimes silky lucilia larvae are used. These worms secrete an enzyme that dissolves dead tissue and then eat the resulting substance. After 2-4 days, individuals grow to a size of 12 mm and stop cleaning the wound. If necessary, they are replaced with a new portion of maggots and therapy is continued.
Unfortunately, larval therapy in its original form causes more rejection than acceptance in the average patient. Not every person is capable of allowing worms to appear in a wound, and doctors prefer more conservative methods healing. But if the doctor suggests trying this option, you should not refuse - in just 1-2 days the bed of the most advanced wound will be cleared, and the healing process will go much faster. In this case, you won’t have to put loading doses antibiotics and other anti-inflammatory medications.
Representatives of the family of flies - gadflies - have a hemispherical, well-developed head, with bare eyes, which in females are spread wider at the back of the head than in males; There are three simple eyes. The antennae are placed in a pit on the forehead, short, segmented, with bare or half-pinnate bristles; the female has a significantly larger segment 3 than the male.
The proboscis of the American group Cuterebridae is quite large, horny, geniculate, retracted into the mouth slit and is hardly noticeable from the outside, without tentacles. The body is large, wide, with a transverse seam on the back, the hind legs are often very elongated.
Dogs become infected when they come into contact with grass in nature that contains botfly larvae. The movement of the dog in relation to the grass stimulates the larva to move towards a moving object - towards the dog. The larva will then move around the dog's body until it finds an opening under the skin.
Infection with gadfly larvae is seasonal from summer to early autumn, during the period of activity of adult gadflies.
An infestation of Cuterebra botfly larvae may present as bumps above the surface of the skin, or the dog may show signs associated with the larvae moving through the tissue. Symptoms may include respiratory signs, neurological symptoms, ophthalmological (eye) and skin.
- Cough.
- Fever.
- Hesitant breathing.
Neurological symptoms:
- Dizziness.
- Loss of coordination (movement in a circle).
- Paralysis.
- Blindness.
- Constant “lying down” position.
Ophthalmology symptoms:
- Damage caused by larvae in the eyeball.
Skin symptoms:
- The location of the larva under the skin (tubercle, lump, compaction) will be raised above the skin level and has a hole so that the larva can breathe.
Causes of infection with gadfly larvae in dogs
Treatment of botfly larvae infestation in dogs
If the larva is at the end of its migratory stage and has settled in a specific location on the body, such as under the skin, eye or nose, your veterinarian will be able to remove it safely.
Part 1
Destruction of maggots by chemical means- Permethrin is safe for skin and hair, but its contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and ears is undesirable. If the product accidentally gets into your eyes, you should immediately rinse them with plenty of water.
- If you don't have a dog shampoo that contains permethrin, you can use a medicated shampoo or anti-lice spray. Such preparations always contain permethrin as an active substance.
- Permethrin and other synthetic pyrethroids are dangerous for cats and fish. Products that are suitable for dogs can be fatal for cats and fish.
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Use bleach. Household bleach is excellent at killing maggots. Dilute the bleach with water in a 1:1 ratio and pour the mixture directly onto the maggots. If maggots fill the trash can, pour out the bleach and cover the bin with a lid, so the insects will simply suffocate from the fumes chemical agent. After that, all you have to do is rinse out the bucket of bleach. Very comfortably!
Take advantage special means from insects, for example, Reid. Of course, it is not as good as permethrin, but it is also quite effective in combating maggots, although it does not act immediately, but after some time (30 minutes or more). This product acts as a fumigator, helping to get rid of flying insects, cockroaches, ants, etc.
Use other household products. Such products are not as effective as permethrin and Reid, but if you don’t have anything better at hand, then you can safely use them. (In general, many household chemicals are suitable; read below about which ones.) The following household products will help you in the fight against maggots:
- Hairspray, for example AquaNet.
- Cleaning agent for various surfaces.
- All-purpose cleaners, such as Fantastica or Formula 409.
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If none of the above is found, try using machine oil or brake and carburetor cleaner. These products are especially suitable in cases where there are really a lot of maggots, a whole trash can, for example. Mix carburetor cleaner with several liters hot water. Pour the product into the trash can (after emptying it of debris), cover with a lid and wait a few hours until the toxic fumes from the product do their job. Clear the box of dead larvae.
Part 2
Getting rid of maggots naturally-
Pour boiling water over the maggots. This method is ideal for you if maggots have spread in the trash can. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove any remaining debris from the bucket that maggots feed on. When the water boils, carefully pour the boiling water into the bucket over the maggots. If you can, cover the trash can with a lid to keep the heat in.
Sprinkle the area with the insects with diatomaceous earth. Diatomite is a sedimentary rock used for cleaning and insect control. (Especially good against fleas!) Sprinkle the area where the maggots are located with a small amount of diatomaceous earth and wait a little. Diatomaceous earth sticks to the larvae's body and slowly dehydrates them. As a result, maggots die from dehydration. Problem solved!
Sprinkle the area with the insects with salt or lime. These substances work in the same way as diatomaceous earth - they gradually dry out the bodies of the larvae, as a result of which they die from dehydration.
- Of course, the "lime" we're talking about is a little different from fruit lime. The lime used in this substance is lime composed of calcium (calcium oxide or hydroxide).
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Pour a mixture of water and vinegar over the maggots. Maggots will not survive in a vinegar environment, which means that removing the insects this way will prevent them from recurring in the future.
Use the old beer trick. Pour the beer into an open container and place it next to the maggots. They will try to get into the dishes and end up drowning in the beer. This method is suitable if there are very few maggots, but if there are too many insects, it is better to use another method.
Freeze the insects. Again, not the best solution for a whole swarm of maggots, but not bad for a few insects. Place the maggots in a bag, close it tightly, put it in the freezer and wait for the insects to die from the cold. This method, as well as boiling water, may not seem very pleasant, but you want to get rid of the insects and do everything possible to prevent them from infesting your home again.
Part 3
Preventing Insects from Reappearing-
First of all, you need to fight the source of the problem, and not its consequences. The flies reproduce and immediately lay larvae, which later turn into maggots. Flies breed on decaying meat or fish. This means that if you want to get rid of maggots once and for all, you should not throw leftover meat and fish in the trash. Here are some solutions when dealing with the source of the problem.
- Before throwing away leftover meat and fish, wrap it in paper. Wrap the bones, scales, and meat itself in a paper towel before throwing it in the trash. It will be difficult for flies to get to the remains of meat and fish, and, therefore, they will not be able to lay larvae.
- Process meat and fish. Have you ever tried making soup stock from just a few bones? It's very easy and simple. All you need to do is place the remaining bones in a pan of boiling water, add Bay leaf and spices and simmer over low heat for at least an hour.
- Place some meat/bones in a separate refrigerator (or freezer) until the trash is taken out, then throw it all away together. Meat will not spoil quickly if it has been previously frozen.
- Here's a trick to help keep the bottom of your bucket dry. You know those absorbent bags that are usually found in shoe boxes and other packaging? Place several of these bags at the bottom of the bucket. The bags contain an absorbent substance that instantly collects moisture. In general, this is the main substance in the composition of diatomite.
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Use a chemical that contains permethrin. This synthetic chemical is used to kill insects and mites. The chemical is also used as a remedy for scabies and lice, and is available in the form of shampoo or cream. For the simplest solution, boil water, add permethrin dog shampoo and spray on the maggots.
- You can also use bleach to get rid of maggots.
- To prevent the appearance of maggots, it is strongly recommended to throw out lost meat, seal trash cans and regularly disinfect them, install fly screens on windows, rinse beer and other drink cans before throwing them in the trash, collect fallen fruit from the yard and not store pet food outside.
As a rule, maggots appear in a dog’s wound if the animal is neglected. Not cured open injuries, festering wounds, ulcers, scratched insect bites are an ideal environment for laying eggs of various flies, from which larvae later hatch. Such a phenomenon in clinical settings It's called miasm. If the necessary measures are not taken urgently, this can lead to serious consequences, including the death of the pet.
How to detect maggots?
Purulent wounds are a favorite place for maggots. They reproduce at maximum speed, since the dog’s body has all the comfortable conditions for their living: available food and warmth. In an open wound on a dog, you can easily notice elongated light-colored creatures with the naked eye. By feeding on the pet’s flesh, they will actively increase in size and absorb more and more soft tissue, which subsequently begins to decompose. Fly larvae, penetrating deep into wounds, eat through subcutaneous tunnels, causing further damage to the dog. more harm. By eating away cells, maggots injure muscle and bone tissue. In addition, the spread of pathogenic microflora in the body further worsens. The skin tissue in the affected areas begins to swell and fester.
Symptoms and treatment
Miasm in dogs is divided into three types:
If maggots have appeared in a dog’s wound, you cannot do only superficial treatment. Treatment should be carried out under the full supervision of a veterinarian. Since all the larvae are not destroyed, the exudate is eliminated and the pathogenic microflora, the tissue will not heal, which means an outbreak of another lesion is possible.
Fly larvae are not dangerous to humans, but they have a good appetite and can eat a dog alive.
If the presence of maggots was detected on initial stage reproduction and there are few of them, you can cope on your own. For treatment you will need chlorhesidine; it must be applied to the wound for several days. But it should be remembered that the solution contains toxic substances that the animal can lick off, and this can lead not only to severe poisoning, but also to the death of the pet. In this situation, it is better not to take risks and if maggots appear in the dog’s wound, immediately contact a veterinary clinic.
Preventive measures
Increased attention to the dog, regular examination of the skin and timely treatment open wounds foul-smelling products will prevent flies from laying eggs. If at least one fly larva is noticed in the house, it is necessary to urgently inspect the animal and carry out a complete disinfection of the room. Regular control of flying insects, keeping the dog's habitat clean and maintaining hygiene will prevent the development of miasmas.
