Gasterophilus

Gasterophilus
Gassterophilus intestinalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Oestridae
Subfamily: Gasterophilinae
Genus: Gasterophilus
Leach, 1817
Species
Synonyms

Gasterophilus, commonly known as botfly, is a genus of parasitic fly from the family Oestridae that affects different types of animals, especially horses, but it can also act on cows, sheep, and goats. A case has also been recorded in a human baby.[1]

This parasite affects the animal gastrointestinal tract[2] in order to give to their offspring an alimentary source.

Although not deadly, due to the usual low larva population that infests the animal, large larva populations can cause health issues to the host. For example, a typical horse can tolerate a hundred larvae without any effects.

  1. ^ Royce, L. A.; Rossignol, P. A.; Kubitz, M. L.; Burton, F. R. (1999-03-01). "Recovery of a second instar Gasterophilus larva in a human infant: a case report". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 60 (3): 403–404. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1999.60.403. ISSN 0002-9637. PMID 10466968.
  2. ^ "Bot Flies | Livestock Veterinary Entomology". livestockvetento.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-07.