Effect of Ointments of Sulphur or Pyrogenium on Larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Background: Myiasis by (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a serious problem in animal health in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Ointment-type preparations are a good option of formulation in cases of myiasis in farm and pet animals. and have already shown efficacy on . This article describes an experiment to test the inhibition of development from exposing larvae of to two homeopathic ointments (prepared individually with or ).

Methods: The homeopathic ointments were produced by mixing sterile lanolin, tocopherol and homeopathic medicine on a hydroalcoholic basis according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia. Larvae were obtained from naturally occurring myiases in sheep (wild larvae) or from a laboratory colony. The test consisted of exposing a group of 10 third-stage wild larvae in contact with or ointment, or a group of 15 laboratory-propagated larvae in contact with the alcoholic vehicle of the ointment or homeopathic medicines prepared in sterile water ( or ), and observing the effect on the development, longevity and fertility of the blow-fly specimens.

Results: The larval inhibition rate was 90.0% for the ointment group and was 86.0% for the ointment group. The non-alcoholic vehicle and the alcoholic vehicle inhibited the development of 24.0% and 22.08% of the larvae respectively. prepared in sterile water inhibited the development of 74.67% and in sterile water inhibited 73.33% of larvae. Specimens that survived contact with homeopathic ointments had their longevity decreased and did not reproduce.

Conclusion: Ointments of or were able to inhibit the development of larvae. The ointment vehicle was harmless.