A Case of Lacrimal Gland Dirofilariasis

Abstract

A patient with a diagnosis of chronic and idiopathic unilateral dacryoadenitis was submitted to our clinic for diagnostic reasons from a regional hospital. Within a period of 1 year, this was the second onset of a swelling in the region of the lacrimal gland which – unlike the first time – showed resistance to antibiotic treatment. The patient’s general and ophthalmic condition was good, and his only complaint was of cosmetic nature because of the disfiguring swelling in the lateral part of the left upper eyelid. Basic laboratory findings showed no abnormalities and radiographic imaging showed enlargement of the left lacrimal gland without bony destruction. Guided by epidemiological data for noninfectious dacryoadenitis we decided to perform excisional biopsy of the left lacrimal gland. To our surprise, the pathologist verified the presence of a worm of the genus Dirofilaria, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the second reported case of lacrimal gland dirofilariasis in the literature and the second reported case of such a disease in Croatia.

The first case of human autochtonous subconjunctival dirofilariosis in Poland and MALT lymphoma as possible consequence of this parasitosis

“…In this localization infection may be periorbital, subconjunctival or most rarely intraocular [ 10 , 14 ]. In literature we found two cases where worms were removed from lacrimal gland: one was in China and another one in Croatia [ 15 , 16 ].…”

An unusual presentation of lacrimal gland dirofilariasis

“…Lacrimal gland dirofilariasis, to the best of our knowledge, has been reported twice, Hong Kong in 2004[10] and Croatia in 2007. [11] Our case would be the third in the world and first in India. There has been a previous case report from India in which the tissue around the lacrimal gland was involved.…”

Ocular dirofilariasis in bosnia and herzegovina: A case report and review of the literature

“…In recent years, an increasing number of human subcutaneous and especially human ocular dirofilariasis cases with different clinical presentations has been reported from the neighboring countries of Croatia 8 9 10 and Serbia. 11 12 13 On the other hand, in the majority of recent reports, Bosnia and Herzegovina is still a country with no epidemiologic data about human dirofilariasis.…”

“…The distribution of Dirofilaria repens is limited to the Old World, with highly prevalent areas (prevalence in dogs of >10%) in southern and eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia, and Sri Lanka. 5 6 7 In recent years, an increasing number of ocular dirofilariasis cases has been reported from neighboring countries Croatia 8 9 10 and Serbia, 11 12 13 but rarely from Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1 3 4 14 …”