Gasterophilus
| Gasterophilus | |
|---|---|
| Gassterophilus intestinalis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Oestridae |
| Subfamily: | Gasterophilinae |
| Genus: | Gasterophilus Leach, 1817 |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
Gasterophilus, commonly known as botfly, is a genus of parasitic fly from the family Oestridae that affects different types of animals, especially horses, but it can also act on cows, sheep, and goats. A case has also been recorded in a human baby.
This parasite affects the animal gastrointestinal tract in order to give to their offspring an alimentary source.
Although not deadly, due to the usual low larva population that infests the animal, large larva populations can cause health issues to the host. For example, a typical horse can tolerate a hundred larvae without any effects.
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