title: Human ocular infection with Dirofilaria repens (Railliet and Henry, 1911) in an area endemic for canine dirofilariasis.
abstract: Dirofilaria repens, which is usually found in canine subcutaneous tissues, is the main causative agent of human dirofilariasis in the Old Word. However, a relationship between animal and human cases of dirofilariasis caused by D. repens in a given area has never been demonstrated. The uneven distribution of D. repens in provinces in Sicily, Italy represented the foundation for this study. We report a human case of ocular infection with D. repens from Trapani Province, where canine dirofilariasis is endemic. The nematode was morphologically and molecularly identified and surgical removal of the parasite was documented. The relationship between the prevalence of D. repens in dogs and the occurrence of human cases of ocular dirofilariasis is discussed on the basis of a review of the historical literature.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Zootecnia, Università degli Studi di Bari, Str. Prov.le per Casamassima km 3, Valenzano, Bari, Italy. d.otranto@veterinaria.uniba.it
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otranto
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brianti
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaglio
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dantas-Torres
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azzaro
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannetto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004182:Dirofilaria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology