Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria immitis in a Greek adult

Abstract

Human dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infection caused by worms of the genus Dirofilaria. Most reported cases involve Dirofilaria repens, and D. immitis infection has been rarely reported. Canines act as a reservoir for the infection, while human infections are sporadic. Human dirofilariasis has been widely reported in South Europe; however, the worldwide distribution constantly changes. We herein report an extremely rare case of subcutaneous trunk dirofilariasis in a 45-year-old immunosuppressed woman, caused by D. immitis. The parasitic infection was detected using ultrasonography. The infection was confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction-based method and was attributed to D. immitis.

<em>Dirofilaria immitis</em> and <em>Dirofilaria repens</em>: Investigating the Prevalence of the Zoonotic Parasites in Dogs and Humans in a Hyperenzootic Area

“…Human dirofilariosis, due to both D. immitis and D. repens, has been documented in Greece on several occasions [45,47]. However, in only a few instances of ocular and one case of subcutaneous dirofilariosis were the parasites unequivocally characterized by molecular means as D. repens [48] and D. immitis [49], respectively. A seroepidemiological survey in humans has never been carried out in the past and the prevalence of human infection in a selected, hyperenzootic area of Greece is reported herein for the first time.…”

<em>Dirofilaria immitis</em> and <em>Dirofilaria repens</em>: Investigating the Prevalence of the Zoonotic Parasites in Dogs and Humans in a Hyperenzootic Area

“…Human dirofilariosis, due to both D. immitis and D. repens, has been documented in Greece on several occasions [45,47]. However, in only a few instances of ocular and one case of subcutaneous dirofilariosis were the parasites unequivocally characterized by molecular means as D. repens [48] and D. immitis [49], respectively. A seroepidemiological survey in humans has never been carried out in the past and the prevalence of human infection in a selected, hyperenzootic area of Greece is reported herein for the first time.…”

Pulmonary coin lesion caused by Dirofilaria immitis – a report of two cases with a minireview of the literature

“…Dirofilaria includes more than 40 species, but only a few infect humans. In 2016 around 400 cases worldwide and only about 30 cases of Dirofilaria immitis infection of humans in Europe had been reported, which were demonstrated as lung or intravascular or heart tumorous lesions [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Until now only a few more cases of HPD in Europe have been reported [13,14].…”

Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece

“…Subcutaneous Dirofilaria repens is more frequently involved in causing human diseases in the Old World, but D . immitis -caused infections are also known, including in Greece [ 26 ]. The positivity to D .…”

<em>Dirofilaria immitis</em> and <em>Dirofilaria repens</em>: Investigating the Prevalence of the Zoonotic Parasites in Dogs and Humans in a Hyperenzootic Area

“…Human dirofilariosis, due to both D. immitis and D. repens, has been documented in Greece on several occasions [45,47]. However, in only a few instances of ocular and one case of subcutaneous dirofilariosis were the parasites unequivocally characterized by molecular means as D. repens [48] and D. immitis [49], respectively. A seroepidemiological survey in humans has never been carried out in the past and the prevalence of human infection in a selected, hyperenzootic area of Greece is reported herein for the first time.…”

Pulmonary coin lesion caused by Dirofilaria immitis – a report of two cases with a minireview of the literature

“…Dirofilaria includes more than 40 species, but only a few infect humans. In 2016 around 400 cases worldwide and only about 30 cases of Dirofilaria immitis infection of humans in Europe had been reported, which were demonstrated as lung or intravascular or heart tumorous lesions [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Until now only a few more cases of HPD in Europe have been reported [13,14].…”

Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece

“…Subcutaneous Dirofilaria repens is more frequently involved in causing human diseases in the Old World, but D . immitis -caused infections are also known, including in Greece [ 26 ]. The positivity to D .…”

<em>Dirofilaria immitis</em> and <em>Dirofilaria repens</em>: Investigating the Prevalence of the Zoonotic Parasites in Dogs and Humans in a Hyperenzootic Area

“…Human dirofilariosis, due to both D. immitis and D. repens, has been documented in Greece on several occasions [45,47]. However, in only a few instances of ocular and one case of subcutaneous dirofilariosis were the parasites unequivocally characterized by molecular means as D. repens [48] and D. immitis [49], respectively. A seroepidemiological survey in humans has never been carried out in the past and the prevalence of human infection in a selected, hyperenzootic area of Greece is reported herein for the first time.…”

Pulmonary coin lesion caused by Dirofilaria immitis – a report of two cases with a minireview of the literature

“…Dirofilaria includes more than 40 species, but only a few infect humans. In 2016 around 400 cases worldwide and only about 30 cases of Dirofilaria immitis infection of humans in Europe had been reported, which were demonstrated as lung or intravascular or heart tumorous lesions [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Until now only a few more cases of HPD in Europe have been reported [13,14].…”

Intestinal parasites and vector-borne pathogens in stray and free-roaming cats living in continental and insular Greece

“…Subcutaneous Dirofilaria repens is more frequently involved in causing human diseases in the Old World, but D . immitis -caused infections are also known, including in Greece [ 26 ]. The positivity to D .…”