Blowfly Debridment Therapy, its Benefits and Importance

Maggots of the green-bottle fly (Lucilia sericata or Phaenicia sericata) have been known for centuries to help heal wounds. They belong to the family Calliphoridae with about 1,100 known species. The most common areas to find the calliphoridae are China, America, Japan and Nigeria. The adults are known for being shiny with metallic coloring, have blunt mouth parts, with their antennae segmented. The larva passes through three stages before reaching adult stage. Disinfected larvae are harvested, and used for maggot debridement therapy (M.D.T.). Their mode of action is in three stages; dissolve dead tissues, kill the bacteria thereby speeding the rate of healing. The maggots are applied to the wound by either direct application or by the use of bio-bag application. M.D.T. has been used in many parts of the world due to the wide spectrum of its use in non healing wounds. Some of the challenges associated with M.D.T. are infection, escape of the maggots, proper identification of maggot and anxiety. However, it is less expensive and heals faster compared to its clinical alternative.