A Rare Case of Human Dirofilariasis in Požega-Slavonia County, Croatia

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is an infection caused by parasites of the Dirofilaria genus, which are natural parasites of dogs and cats. Humans are accidental hosts who become infected by the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common vectors are female mosquitoes from Aedes, Anopheles, Culex genera. There are more than 40 described species of Dirofilaria, but human infection is most commonly caused by two species: Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis. Human infections are most commonly manifested as subcutaneous/ocular Dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria repens) and pulmonary Dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria immitis). We presented a case of subcutaneous dirofilariasis of the right knee in a 52-year-old patient that manifested as a subcutaneous nodule. He described spending a lot of recreational time near the river Sava. Five years ago, he noticed swelling of his right leg. Two years ago, a subcutaneous nodule appeared in the front part of the knee. Excision in local anesthesia was performed. During the operative procedure, a moving filarial worm was found. The worm was identified as Dirofilaria spp. at the Croatian Institute of Public Health Zagreb.

DOI: 10.5671/ca.48.2.7