Rearing larvae of Lucilia sericata for chronic ulcer treatment--an improved method

Abstract

Larval therapy is a biological 'dressing' for chronic ulcers which is used for debridement, to initiate healing and to reduce bacteria and unpleasant odour. One condition for being able to employ larval therapy is access to disinfected larvae of good quality. We therefore started rearing Lucilia sericata larvae in 1998. Rearing necrophagous larvae in a hospital setting makes it essential to control odour. The improvement of the method includes the use of a controlled, humid, warm environment with artificial light and inexpensive disposable material, as well as the use of ready-made, constantly available and aseptically produced nutrition for feeding larvae and flies. With equipment such as a refrigerator and freezer, larval food is kept fresh and odour-free and chloramine solution is used to disinfect the eggs and thus the larvae. Adhering to a proposed weekly working schedule makes the rearing procedure effective and reliable.