De pad en zijn kwelgeest

The toad and his torturer. The number of cases of amphibian myiasis reported to RAVON has increased in recent years. This mortal disease results from infestation by the blowfly Lucilia ufonivora, which is an obligate parasite of amphibians in Europe, particularly the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) and only incidentally other anurans. Only rarely do individuals manage to rid themselves of its eggs or maggots. Infested toads are almost always adults. However, an infested juvenile was found in the Netherlands. It died within six or seven days, its body completely digested by the aggots. Only six imagos and five fully grown third instar larvae developed out of the 84 eggs. It remains unclear from European fields tudies whether the first instar larvae reach the nasal cavities from the inside of the animal (by penetrating the skin) or from the outside (by migrating over the back). Published cases of myiasis in both frogs and toads from the United States and Canada are due to the facultative parasite Lucilia silvarum. This species is reported to lay its eggs on the skin, which the first instar maggots penetrate, developing further inside the body. Although L. silvarum is also quite common in Europe, no reliable records of parasitisation in amphibians have been reported so far. The authors stress the importance of considering the possibility of L. silvarum as causal agent when examining European cases of myiasis, especially in amphibians.