Infectious Disease Compendium

Dirofilarisis

Microbiology

Helminths. A round worm.

Includes D. immitis, the dog heartworm and D. tenuis in raccoons, D. ursi in bears, D. subdermata in porcupines, and D. repens in European dog and cat.

Epidemiologic Risks

Humans are infected with Dirofilaria larvae by mosquito bites. Humans are accidental hosts.

Dirofilaria immitis has a worldwide distribution and causes benign pulmonary nodules.

D. repens found in the Old World, N. Italy, and Eastern Europe, causing subcutaneous nodules, pulmonary nodules, and intraocular infections.

Syndromes

D. immitis: lung nodules, which can mimic pulmonary infection with eosinophilia but are usually asymptomatic coin lesions, the others cause subcutaneous nodules, often without eosinophilia.

Treatment

Cold steel i.e. cut it out.

Notes

Last Update: 04/02/19.