Thelazia Callipaeda and Eye Infections

Abstract

ACTA FACULTATIS MEDICAE NAISSENSISUDC: 617.7-002:616.993 S U M M A R YEye infections can be caused by metazoans -helminths and for long this parasitosis was believed to spread only in tropical regions of the world. Lately, mostly subconjunctival infections of adults or immature forms of D. repens, which is nematoda-filaria of canids, have been described and the man is just an accidental host. The genus Thelazia (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) comprises a cosmopolitan group of eye worm spirurids responsible for eye infections of domestic and wild animals and humans, carried by different kinds of flies. Nematodes localized in the conjunctival space, lacrimal canals and surrounding ocular tissues of humans can cause symptoms from mild to very serious and severe ones if not treated. The chief aim of this paper was to describe the morphological characteristics, life cycle, prevalence and clinical significance of Thelazia spp. as a parasite of the eye. To ensure the diagnosis of thelasiosis and appropriate treatment, it is necessary to have continuing medical reports and increase the awareness of this infection.

ikinci

“…Since information on T. callipaeda is rare and less known, the diagnosis of infections of this zoonotic species is omitted [7] . To the best of our knowledge, in Turkey, there is not a case report about this species.…”

“…Adult worms look like creamy white threads [6] . Male adults are 4.5-13 mm in length and 0.25 to 0.85 mm in diameter, while the females are longer, from 6.2 to 17 mm and from 0.3 to 0.85 mm in diameter [7] . There are fine lines and protrusions in the cuticle of Thelazia species.…”

“…After this processes, morphological examinations were carried out on a light microscope (Olympus CX31) by parasitologist and pictures were taken (Olympus Imaging System Olympus LC30). The morphological features of the parasite were determined and the species was diagnosed by using the related literature [3,6,7,10] . There was no pathological result in the blood test.…”

Serbia: Another endemic region for canine ocular thelaziosis

“…Climate in the countries where T. callipaeda has been reported varies from tropical (Indonesia) and subtropical (Japan) in the Far East to temperate in the Russian Federation. In Europe, infections by T. callipaeda have been reported in Italy (25), Germany (9), Switzerland (14), France (34), Spain (16), Portugal (13,38), Belgium (5), Serbia (18), and Romania (15).…”

“…After the parasite had spread among domestic and wild carnivores in Europe, the first human cases of this zoonotic disease were described in Italy, France, and Serbia (18,24). Although humans are competent hosts, they usually act as accidental final hosts, in whom the third-stage larvae can grow into adults, but without epidemiologic effects on parasite transmission (7).…”