Human Ocular Infection with Dirofilaria repens (Railliet and Henry, 1911) in an Area Endemic for Canine Dirofilariasis

Abstract

Abstract. Dirofilaria repens , which is usually found in canine subcutaneous tissues, is the main causative agent of human dirofilariasis in the Old Word. However, a relationship between animal and human cases of dirofilariasis caused by D. repens in a given area has never been demonstrated. The uneven distribution of D. repens in provinces in Sicily, Italy represented the foundation for this study. We report a human case of ocular infection with D. repens from Trapani Province, where canine dirofilariasis is endemic. The nematode was morphologically and molecularly identified and surgical removal of the parasite was documented. The relationship between the prevalence of D. repens in dogs and the occurrence of human cases of ocular dirofilariasis is discussed on the basis of a review of the historical literature.

Human ocular dirofilariosis in Slovakia, a case report

“…Pain in the eye, redness and swelling of eyelids represent symptoms that occurred in our patient and most patients with ocular dirofilariosis (Koltas et al, 2002;Yehudit et al, 2006;Raniel et al, 2006;Janjetović et al, 2010;Khoramnia & Wegner, 2010;Wesolowska et al, 2010). As observed by other authors, visual status usually remained intact after surgical removal of the worm (Koltas et al, 2002;Maraghi et al, 2006;Mittal et al, 2008;Argy et al, 2011;Otranto et al, 2011a;Otranto et al, 2011b). Diagnosis of human dirofilariosis is primarily based on histological evaluation of infected tissue and the macroscopic characteristics of the worm (Rouhani & Athari, 2003;Nath et al, 2010;Tafti et al, 2010;Argy et al, 2011;Otranto et al, 2011b).…”

“…As observed by other authors, visual status usually remained intact after surgical removal of the worm (Koltas et al, 2002;Maraghi et al, 2006;Mittal et al, 2008;Argy et al, 2011;Otranto et al, 2011a;Otranto et al, 2011b). Diagnosis of human dirofilariosis is primarily based on histological evaluation of infected tissue and the macroscopic characteristics of the worm (Rouhani & Athari, 2003;Nath et al, 2010;Tafti et al, 2010;Argy et al, 2011;Otranto et al, 2011b). Confirmation of morphological identification and definite diagnosis of D. repens is possible by DNA analysis with polymerase chain reaction (Vakalis et al, 1999) and primers for a highly specific portion of COI gene.…”

“…This human case is the second in new endemic region of Slovakia, where D. repens infection was confirmed by the complex diagnostic approach including macroscopic morphological characteristics, histological examination and PCR-based detection of D. repens (Hrčková et al, 2013). The incidence of human dirofilariosis generally correlates with the occurrence of canine dirofilariosis as a reservoir of infection (Taft et al, 2010, Otranto et al, 2011b. This is also confirmed in all documented cases of dirofilariosis from Slovakia.…”

A Novel Dirofilaria Species Causing Human and Canine Infections in Hong Kong

“…We chose the cox1 gene for genetic characterization of the Dirofilaria isolates in our study because this gene can reliably differentiate between different species of filariae, and it has also been used for the identification of Dirofilaria in previous studies (7,9,12,20,22,30). The reported mean nucleotide distance of the cox1 gene within species ranges from 0% to 2% (9), and there is less than 1% difference between available D. repens sequences in the GenBank.…”

Field clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of an oral formulation containing milbemycin oxime/praziquantel (Milbemax®, Novartis Animal Health) in the chemoprevention of the zoonotic canine infection by Dirofilaria repens

“…Importantly, this nematode has a zoonotic potential and the human infection usually presents with subcutaneous nodules, pruriginous urticarioid patches, transient swellings and eosinophilia, although photophobia, conjunctival irritation and nodules or cysts in the eye or in the periocular tissues have also been reported [7, 8]. …”