One with a parasite in its chest region
Here is a video showing how the parasite was slightly moving (although it's hard to make out since the mouse's heart is also beating):
Another mouse with double parasites in its posterior
We were able to remove one of these for further examination. Here is the video of its removal:
Here is the object we removed:
Finally, here is the mouse after we removed the parasite, showing the pocket that was left behind:
Identification?
20 comments:
Botfly larva??
Where in the world - Africa?
Cordylobia anthropophaga - tumbu fly.
Botfly larva. One of the Cuterebra species?
Actually, it's in the midwestern United States!
Wohlfahrtia vigil?
Wohlfahrtia vigil?
Bot Fly larva.
I tried to rear two of the larvae to adults but they did not pupate.
Identification to species would have been easier. Probably _Cuterebra sp._ These larva drop off the host and pupate in the ground then emerge as adults. See _Dermatobia hominis_ for human bot fly information and images in Wallace Peters' "A Colour Atlas of Arthropods in Clinical Medicine"
Since it's so old, not sure if anyone will see this, but I have a question regarding the parasite in question. I recently in southern florida came across a mouse with three of these larvae visible from the rear. My dog actually pounced and snatched the mouse in his mouth, and when the mouse didn't scurry off when I made Wookie drop it, I inspected further. Man these buggers give me the hebeejebees! They aren't transmissible, are they?
Hi SGH,
No, thankfully, they aren't transmissible. They're just part of the lifecycle of a fly that is parasitic during it's larval stage. Once they mature, they fall our of the host (mouse) and pupate in the ground. Eventually, an adult fly will emerge from the pupa stage.
I should mention that there are some flies outside of the US that do use humans as their host - South America and Africa are 2 locations where you are at risk. So you may want to find out more about these areas, should you ever decide to take a trip to an endemic area.
While looking for things to write about related to my mouse trap blog, I've seen this kinda of parasite, but never a double exit, so to speak, and then reading the comment about the triple exit, eek, poor little guys.
Thank you for your pictures and information. I live in Minnesota, and found a dead mouse on the stairway to the basement with one of these wiggling "pods" next to it. Upon closer examination, there was a vacant space under the tail. I thought at first the mouse had been stepped on, forcing the uterus out of the body, but no pics of mouse anatomy matched what I was seeing. It greatly disturbed me, as I was wondering if humans or dogs could be host for this parasite. I am greatly relieved to know that this is rodent specific.
So far no one has given this parasite a name. I found one today in the trap. I'd like to know more but can't find the name. Anyone?
Hi Anon,
This is actually the rodent bot fly, Cuterebra species. Here is an entry on this organism at BugGuide.net - a great reference for bugs!
http://bugguide.net/node/view/690009
does the mouse survive the life cycle of the parasite? I just found one of these yesterday and the mouse looked in really bad shape. It looked like it was being tortured. not sure what to do I dropped the mouse into a pond thinking it would either drown the mouse or cause the parasite to exit the wound. The mouse swam with some trouble, but my attempt seemed to do no good for anyone. Would it have died anyway?
Jacob, the Mose does survive, although it doesn't always do as well as a non-infected mouse!
Hi!
I appreciate this page! I "saved" a deermouse from my cat just now, placing the mouse in a box to see how hurt it was. At first I thought it was a she and giving birth, then I thought it was terribly hurt with an undulating bit of an organ sticking out. Then an object came out near its anus. I thought maybe injury, large defecation, but the object *moved*. It was alive! I realized it wasn't a baby, but a pupae. And it had another one sticking out near the back haunch. Totally creeped out, totally fascinated and sympathetic. Poor mouse! The mouse was very energetic. I took the whole thing, mouse and pupa, and placed it back outdoors. I was relieved my cat didn't eat a parasite, but now I know--thanks to you--what it was. (Thunderstorm happening, btw, making things even more creepy! Lol)
well... My hypothesis is that this little creature is indeed a botfly larva!!! I've studied this little bug for many years. I conclude that I am indeed correct. Thanks
- Dr. Prof Dmoney
These things are creepy! My husband found our cat playing with a dead rat. When I flipped the body over with a stick, I discovered the leathery worm protruding from its chest. I also wonder if the rat died from the parasite. Curiosity got the best of me. I gloved up and pulled it out. It is the thing of horror movies!
Yeap
Just found one and I live in Oregon where it is currently snowing.
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