Unexpected intracranial location of a Cephenemyia stimulator larva in a roe deer, Capreolus capreolus, revealed by computed tomography

In this study we describe the finding of a Cephenemyia stimulator larva in the brain of a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) after performing a computed tomography (CT) scan of its head. Despite this anatomical location of oestrid larvae could be relatively frequent in other genera, such as Oestrus, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case involving the genus Cephenemyia. Concretely, a second-instar C. stimulator larva was found in the basis of the cranium. The location of a macroscopic hemorrhagic lesion involving the brain parenchyma peripheral to the location of the larva suggests that tissue colonization occurred before the animal was hunted. Since no detectable alterations or damage to the cranial bones were observed, we suggest a possible larval migration route drilling the skull bones. Finally, we propose the use of the term “neuromyiasis” to be referred to the invasion of the central nervous system by dipteran larvae, particularly oestrids.