Case Report: Molecular Detection of Dirofilaria repens in an Italian Patient after a Stay in Tanzania

Abstract

A 35-year-old man was admitted to a hospital in the south of Italy because of a periocular nodule and subpalpebral edema. The patient reported having been stayed in Tanzania five months before. Hematologic parameters were within the normality range, the Acanthocheilonema viteae ELISA did not detect significant levels of antifilarial IgG, and no further symptoms were described. The surgical inspection of the nodule led to the isolation of two filarioid parasites, identified as Dirofilaria repens by SEM, and then by molecular assays. Knott’s test did not reveal microfilaremia, whereas loop-mediated isothermal amplification and PCR detected D. repens DNA. The patient was treated with doxycycline, and he was found no more positive at the follow-up.

Subcutaneous Dirofilariosis of the Eyelid Brought to Poland from the Endemic Territory of Ukraine

“…Humans are unusual hosts for parasites. Nevertheless, infestations in humans can cause subcutaneous nodules, local swelling through subcutaneous migration of the worm, and even severe clinical manifestations affecting various organs (e.g., the brain or lungs) [ 24 , 25 ]. The most common are ocular and periocular infestations, which are found particularly during the migratory phase of the parasite.…”

Selection of new diagnostic markers for Dirofilaria repens infections with the use of phage display technology

“…Although main hosts are carnivores, especially dogs, parasites show high zoonotic potential. Human infections are described more frequently all over Europe 3 and in rare non-endemic locations like Tanzania and other African countries 4 . Human infections were initially considered incomplete in the parasite life cycle; however, several patients with active microfilaremia were reported 5 – 9 .…”