Human Dirofilariasis repens - migratory cutaneous and visceral helminthiasis: new data of "the old" disease. Analysis of cases and review

Abstract

Dirofilaria repens is an emergent parasitic disease of dogs and man in Russiania. It infects humans accidentally via vectors. Occurrence D.repens in humans is most often in subcutaneous locations. Herein, we present autochtonous cases In Russiania of human dirofilariasis repens in almost all visceral organs with special attention to pulmonary dirofilariasis. Our data confirms the concept that the human being is a facultative host of Dirofilaria repens. Dirofilariasis prevalence is probably underestimated because of its non-specific clinical presentation. A national Russian prevalence study on dirofilariasis in animals and humans is called for in order to improve the management of the disease, both in veterinary and human medicine.