Maggot Therapy - Biology of Flies and Maggots Used in Maggot Therapy

Biology of Flies and Maggots Used in Maggot Therapy

Maggots are fly larvae, or immature flies, just as caterpillars are butterfly or moth larvae. Not all species of flies are safe and effective as medicinal maggots. There are thousands of species of flies, each with its own habits and life cycle. Some fly larvae feed on plants or animals, or even blood. Others feed on rotting organic material.

Those flies whose larvae feed on dead animals will sometimes lay their eggs on the dead parts (necrotic or gangrenous tissue) of living animals. The infestation by maggots of live animals is called "myiasis." Some maggots will feed only on dead tissue, some only on live tissue, and some on live or dead tissue. The flies used most often for the purpose of maggot therapy are "blow flies" (Calliphoridae); and the species used most commonly is Lucilia sericata, the common green bottle fly. Another important species, Protophormia terraenovae, is also notable for its feeding secretions, which combat infection by Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

All maggots used for debridement are specialized and grown in a laboratory setting. This ensures that the larvae are sterilized in order to prevent secondary infections caused by microbes carried in by the maggots. Due to their short lifespan, usability is limited. This means that shipment must be direct and over night. They are also sensitive to temperature variations and must be transported with great care. Some of these challenges have limited the use of maggot therapy in certain regions of the world.