title: Human dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens in Sri Lanka.
abstract: Human dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens is a common zoonotic infection in Sri Lanka. Todate 70 cases are on record, and they include 3 expatriates from Russia, England and Korea, who were undoubtedly infected in Sri Lanka. Around 30-60% of dogs are infected with D. repens in various parts of the country and the mosquito vectors are Aedes aegypti, Armigeres subalbatus, Mansonia uniformis and M. annulifera. Unlike in other countries of the old world infection is most common in children under the age of 9 years, the youngest being 4 months old and the scrotum, penis and perianal regions of male children appear to be frequent sites for the worms. Dirofilaria (Dirofilaria) immitis is not present in Sri Lanka though it is present in neighbouring countries like India, and Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dissanaike
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abeyewickreme
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wijesundera
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Weerasooriya
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ismail
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004182:Dirofilaria / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D015822:Eye Infections, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology