Dirofilariasis and related traumas in Greek patients: Mini Review

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is a rare vector-borne parasitic human disease. The culprit pathogens belong to the nematode’s family Filaridae. In humans most commonly species related to disease are Dirofilaria repens, D. tenuis, and D. immitis (the dog heartworm). Of those, D. immitis is related to pulmonary infection, whilst the other species are related to subcutaneous dirofilariasis. The vector is mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Culex, Anopheles, and Mansonia. The natural transmission of Dirofilaria species from animals to humans occurs during the blood meals of the arthropods, where the worm is injected via the bite. Herein we describe case reports related to autochthonous dirofilariasis in Greek patients. All data have been retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar. Many autochthonous cases of pulmonary, ocular and subcutaneous disease have been described in Greek patients from 1996 till 2020. Climate change and global warming is affecting the vectors and dirofilariasis should be considered as an emerging parasitic disease. All forms of dirofilariasis, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous or ocular nodules or coin like formations in the lungs in Greek patients.