What are Bloodmaggots?
Bloodmaggots are caused by eemwaaso flies, which lay their eggs
just beneath a kat/minena's skin - usually between the shoulderblades
or somewhere hard to reach - and leave them to hatch. When the
eggs hatch, the larvae proceed to eat the kat/minena alive, usually
leaving large, visible wounds on the skin.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of Bloodmaggots only become obvious when the eggs
are about to hatch (one to three days after contamination). An
unnaturally extreme pain can be found in the area of the eggs,
and a large welt will form. This progresses to hemmorhaging,
open sores all over the body, bloody urine and feces, and
eventual death in a matter of days. The condition is extremely
painful and for many death is quite welcome.
What causes it?
Bloodmaggots is caused by an eemwaaso fly laying its eggs beneath
a kat's skin. When these hatch, they begin eating away at the
kat/minena's flesh and organs.
Where is it found?
Eemwaaso beetles are most commonly found in marshes. They
commonly swim in water, making the muddy swamps very dangerous.
The average lifespan of an eemwaaso fly is a little over two
months, two weeks of that being spent as a maggot. They thrive
in the humid marshes, laying their eggs more commonly in dead
animals than live ones.
How can it be prevented?
There is very little one can do to prevent the condition, except
to get open wounds closed as quickly as possible. Having open
wounds is inviting an eemwaaso fly, as they have trouble
breaking the skin by themselves. They will burrow into the
wound a bit, occasionally causing infection, lay their eggs,
and die.
How is it treated?
Once the eggs hatch, very little can save the "host." However,
as soon as the welt appears, the eggs can be cut out. This
treatment is very rarely effective, because one or more is
usually left behind. Even a few of these bloodmaggots can
cause serious damage.
What are your chances of getting it?
Eemwaaso flies prefer laying their eggs in dead animals to live
ones, so the chances of any kat/minena being infected is very slim.
If the flies are deprived of a different place to lay their eggs,
they will attempt to put them in the often-injured Marsh kats.
Naturally, this parasite doesn't attack kats or minena that avoid marshes.
Contributed by Cheshire
