title: Human dirofilariasis: raccoon heartworm causing a leg nodule.
abstract: Human dirofilariasis is a rare zoonotic infection caused by various filarial species of the genus Dirofilaria. Dirofilaria tenuis causes heartworm infection in raccoons and infrequently causes human disease. The Dirofilaria organism accidentally is transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito and subcutaneous nodules, coin lesions of the lungs, or ophthalmic lesions develop at the inoculation site. We report a rare case of D tenuis infection in a patient that manifested as a subcutaneous nodule.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Department of Dermatology, Division of Dermatopathology, Cockerell and Associates Dermatopathology, 2330 Butler St, Suite 115, Dallas, TX 75235, USA. warthan226@comcast.net
authors.forename: Mandy L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Warthan
authors.forename: T Lynn
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Warthan
authors.forename: Ron H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hearne
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Polk
authors.forename: Molly M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Warthan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery