New Treatment Protocol Developed Against New World Screwworm
A university student and veterinarians have created and successfully applied a new treatment protocol for New World screwworm following cases in Honduras.
Following New World screwworm cases encountered during a 2025 veterinary trip to Honduras, experts and students developed a new treatment protocol, which was successfully tested during a 2026 visit.
First Encounter in Honduras
During a 2025 trip, UC Davis veterinary student Anais Jayr and her mentor, Dr. Bill Folger, identified roughly a dozen cases of New World screwworm in dogs, cats, and cattle. This marked the parasite's appearance for the first time in decades.
Creation of the Treatment Protocol
Realizing the lack of consolidated treatment knowledge due to historical eradication, Jayr and Dr. Folger teamed up with Veterinary Information Network experts to form the Screwworm Working Group and optimize a treatment protocol.
2026 Visit and Successful Results
On their return trip in June 2026, conducted alongside Dr. Ruben Ramirez Aquino, the team successfully applied the new protocol to an eight-year-old steer. Thanks to manual removal, chlorhexidine washes, and medications, the animal recovered its health.
New Cases in Texas
The parasite has recently reappeared in Texas, with cases confirmed approximately 200 miles west of a Houston clinic. Modern antiparasitic drugs provide better preparation compared to past decades.