A rare case of <i>Dirofilaria repens</i> infection

Chan, Chee Ching; Kermanshahi, Marjan; Mathew, Bipin; England, Ruth

doi:10.1017/s0022215113001060

Cited by 5 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In most cases, the nodules develop subcutaneously [1, 8, 48, 63, 93, 108, 111, 116, 138, 158, 212, 223–228]. Nodules have been reported in various human body areas and tissues, mostly in the superficial tissues of the facial regions [1, 8], as perioral and periorbital tissues [107, 167, 224, 226, 227, 229–234], forehead [235], skin of the lower leg [93], soft tissues of the hand [236] or finger [93], subcutaneous tissue of the hypogastrium [93] and of the neck [237]. Other predilection sites are scrotum and testicles and, to a lesser extent, the breasts of women [1, 8, 65, 223, 235, 238–245].…”

Section: Human Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe

et al. 2018

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Dirofilaria repens is a nematode affecting domestic and wild canids, transmitted by several species of mosquitoes. It usually causes a non-pathogenic subcutaneous infection in dogs and is the principal agent of human dirofilariosis in the Old World. In the last decades, D. repens has increased in prevalence in areas where it has already been reported and its distribution range has expanded into new areas of Europe, representing a paradigmatic example of an emergent pathogen. Despite its emergence and zoonotic impact, D. repens has received less attention by scientists compared to Dirofilaria immitis. In this review we report the recent advances of D. repens infection in dogs and humans, and transmission by vectors, and discuss possible factors that influence the spread and increase of this zoonotic parasite in Europe. There is evidence that D. repens has spread faster than D. immitis from the endemic areas of southern Europe to northern Europe. Climate change affecting mosquito vectors and the facilitation of pet travel seem to have contributed to this expansion; however, in the authors’ opinion, the major factor is likely the rate of undiagnosed dogs continuing to perpetuate the life-cycle of D. repens. Many infected dogs remain undetected due to the subclinical nature of the disease, the lack of rapid and reliable diagnostic tools and the poor knowledge and still low awareness of D. repens in non-endemic areas. Improved diagnostic tools are warranted to bring D. repens diagnosis to the state of D. immitis diagnosis, as well as improved screening of imported dogs and promotion of preventative measures among veterinarians and dog owners. For vector-borne diseases involving pets, veterinarians play a significant role in prevention and should be more aware of their responsibility in reducing the impact of the zoonotic agents. In addition, they should enhance multisectorial collaboration with medical entomologists and the public health experts, under the concept and the actions of One Health-One Medicine.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3205-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Human Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe

et al. 2018

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“…The clinical progress of the infection included an initial migration of the parasite and the following development of a subcutaneous nodular painless mass. Early ultrasound examination of the node detected filamentous formation in continuous movement, a rare finding [ 8 – 10 ] that suggested the presence of an adult filaria and advised further investigations until the diagnosis of D. repens was made. However, when the patient was referred to the Policlinico University Hospital she was asymptomatic and physical examination was negative.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dirofilaria repens microfilariae from a human node fine-needle aspirate: a case report

et al. 2016

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BackgroundHuman dirofilariosis is still a little known infection even in endemic areas. Dirofilariosis is zoonotic infection usually abortive in humans; instead, we report a very rare case (the 4th in the world), the first in Italy, in which at least two infective larvae became mature adults that mated and produced active microfilariae even though they did not reach peripheral blood.Case presentationA 30-year-old Italian woman presented with a transient oedematous swelling on the left abdominal wall with a creeping eruption followed by the occurrence of a subcutaneous nodular painless mass in the iliac region. One month later, a similar temporary swelling appeared on the contralateral inguinal region associated with intermittent joint discomfort in both knees. The patient had recently travelled abroad, therefore many possible diagnoses were to be ruled out. Routine laboratory investigations revealed eosinophilia. An ultrasound examination of the iliac swelling evidenced a well-defined cyst with a big filamentous formation in continuous movement. A fine-needle aspiration of the lesion was performed for parasitological, cytological and histological exams. The prompt microscopic examination of the aspired material showed the presence of numerous microfilariae that were initially morphologically attributed to Mansonella ozzardi. Subsequently, the revision of the Giemsa stained film and molecular analyses of the biological material, allowed to identify Dirofilaria repens as etiological agent of infection.ConclusionsWe report of a case in whom microfilariae were detected in fine-needle aspirate of subcutaneous node, without evidence of microfilaraemia, and the infection failed to become fully patent. Therefore we confirm that complete development and fertilization of D. repens worms in human hosts may occur, at variance with what is commonly believed, that Dirofilaria worms cannot fully develop in humans.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1582-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…can localize in almost any organs in carnivores and humans [ 1 ]. Lesions caused by D. immitis are focused mainly in the heart (dogs and cats) and in the lungs and skin (in humans, presented as pulmonary and subcutaneous forms), whilst D. repens tends to localize in multiple organs, mainly in the subconjunctiva [ 5 , 9 , 10 ], lungs and coronary artery [ 11 - 13 ], soft tissues as the breast, penis, spermatic cord, epididymis, and scrotum [ 14 - 17 ], brain, liver, lymph nodes, muscles, and anterolaterial neck [ 5 , 18 - 21 ], and rare places, i.e., causing intravitreous infection in humans [ 22 ]. To our knowledge, this is the first case of human infection on subcutaneous posterior thoracic region due to D. repens reported.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Rare Human Case of <i>Dirofilaria repens</i> Infection in the Subcutaneous Posterior Thorax with Molecular Identification

Thang

Nguyen

et al. 2015

Korean J Parasitol

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The emergence of Dirofilarial infections in Asia including Vietnam is a clinically significant threat to the community. We here report a rare case of subcutaneous Dirofilaria repens infection on the posterior thoracic wall in a young woman presenting a painful, itchy, and palpable nodule. The adult worm was identified by mitochondrial cox1 and nuclear ITS-2 sequence determination. The diagnosis was additionally confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing of the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis commonly co-existing with D. repens. This is a rare case of subcutaneous human infection on the posterior thoracic region caused by D. repens.

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A rare case of Dirofilaria repens infection

Abstract: To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of an anterolateral neck swelling secondary to Dirofilaria repens infection in Europe. Our case is unusual because of the rarity of Dirofilaria repens presenting as a neck swelling.

Cited by 5 publications

References 2 publications

Recent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe

Recent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe

Dirofilaria repens microfilariae from a human node fine-needle aspirate: a case report

A Rare Human Case of <i>Dirofilaria repens</i> Infection in the Subcutaneous Posterior Thorax with Molecular Identification

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A rare case of Dirofilaria repens infection

Abstract: To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of an anterolateral neck swelling secondary to Dirofilaria repens infection in Europe. Our case is unusual because of the rarity of Dirofilaria repens presenting as a neck swelling.

Cited by 5 publications

References 2 publications

Recent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe

Recent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe

Dirofilaria repens microfilariae from a human node fine-needle aspirate: a case report

A Rare Human Case of &lt;i&gt;Dirofilaria repens&lt;/i&gt; Infection in the Subcutaneous Posterior Thorax with Molecular Identification

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A Rare Human Case of <i>Dirofilaria repens</i> Infection in the Subcutaneous Posterior Thorax with Molecular Identification