Ophthalmomyiasis caused by Sarcophaga crassipalpis (Diptera : Sarcophagidae) in a hospital patient

Nine sarcophagid larvae were found on the right eyelid, cornea, and bulbar conjunctiva of a debilitated patient in a hospital in Osaka, Japan. Inflamm ation of the right eyelid and conjunctival congestion, probably initiated o r aggravated by the larvae, were found. The larvae were removed and reared for accurate identification, and, on the basis of the characteristics of th e 3rd instar and adult flies, the species was identified as Sarcophaga cras sipalpis Macquart. This is a report of ophthalmomyiasis caused by this facu ltative parasite in a human. Patients with diminished consciousness in hosp itals need protection from flies.