Arthropod Diseases
Animals Involved
Mammals; rare in birds
Known Distributions
C hominivorax in South America, Caribbean; C bezziana in Asia, Africa, Middle East
Probable Means of Spreading
Flies lay eggs on host, larvae enter wounds (as small as a tick bite), mucous membranes
Clinical Manifestations in People
Painful, pruritic, foulsmelling, enlarging dermal and subdermal wounds or nodules, often with serosanguineous discharge; some infestations in cavities, including nasal cavity; larvae can invade living tissue, locally destructive (including bone, eye, sinuses, or cranial cavity); can be fatal if untreated
Animals Involved
Definitive hosts are snakes; intermediate hosts are rodents and other wild animals
Known Distributions
Africa, Asia
Probable Means of Spreading
Ingestion, via water or vegetables contaminated with eggs (from feces or saliva of snakes); undercooked snake meat; contaminated hands, fomites after handling snake meat
Clinical Manifestations in People
Usually asymptomatic; large numbers of parasites can cause multifocal abscesses, masses, or obstruction of ducts in internal organs; symptoms vary with location; death rare
Animals Involved
Various animals carry ticks
Known Distributions
Worldwide
Probable Means of Spreading
Tick attachment
Clinical Manifestations in People
Ascending flaccid paralysis, may be preceded by prodromal flulike illness (malaise, weakness); can cause respiratory paralysis, also paresthesia; ends when tick is removed
Animals Involved
People, dogs, pigs, other mammals
Known Distributions
Africa, Central and South America, Caribbean, south Asia
Probable Means of Spreading
Skin contact with contaminated soil
Clinical Manifestations in People
Penetration of skin and burrowing result in pain and itching around discrete sores, often on feet; may be secondarily infected