Genome of the myiasis-causing fly Chrysomya bezziana, the Old-World Screwworm

Chrysomya bezziana, the Old-World Screwworm (OWS), is a parasitic blowfly that causes myiasis, an infestation where larvae feed on live tissues of vertebrate hosts. Myiasis caused by OWS poses a threat for public health and livestock economy in Asia with a potential risk of global spread by human travelers. Here, we present the first high-quality and complete genome assembly and annotation for OWS. This initiative, when combined with other blowfly genomes available, will contribute to the ongoing effort to understand the evolutionary origin and molecular underpinnings of parasitic behavior in blowflies. Furthermore, it will also contribute to the development of pest management control strategies to combat the spread and the impact of this harmful parasite.