Systemic Infection With <i>Dirofilaria repens</i> in Southwestern France
Authors: Romain Blaizot, Marie-Catherine Receveur, Pascal Millet, Domenico Otranto, Denis J.M. Malvy
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2017)

Letters6 February 2018Systemic Infection With Dirofilaria repens in Southwestern FranceRomain Blaizot, MD, Marie-Catherine Receveur, MD, Pascal Millet, MD, PhD, Domenico Otranto, DVM, PhD, and Denis J.M. Malvy, MD, PhDRomain Blaizot, MDUniversity Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (R.B., M.R., P.M., D.J.M.), Marie-Catherine Receveur, MDUniversity Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (R.B., M.R., P.M., D.J.M.), Pascal Millet, MD, PhDUniversity Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (R.B., M.R., P.M., D.J.M.), Domenico Otranto, DVM, PhDUniversity of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy (D.O.), and Denis J.M. Malvy, MD, PhDUniversity Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (R.B., M.R., P.M., D.J.M.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L17-0426 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infection caused mainly by Dirofilaria repens, a ubiquitous filaroid helminth in dogs and cats that is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Humans are accidental hosts (1). The adult worm of D repens causes subcutaneous and conjunctival infections that are considered benign. Dirofilariasis has traditionally been endemic only in Mediterranean areas (1). In Europe, dogs are the principal source of human infection; Aedes vexans, Culex pipiens, and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are the main vectors (1).Objective: To report a human case of D repens infection acquired in southwestern France.Case Report: In September 2016, a 70-year-old ...References1. Simón F, Siles-Lucas M, Morchón R, González-Miguel J, Mellado I, Carretón E, et al. Human and animal dirofilariasis: the emergence of a zoonotic mosaic. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012;25:507-44. [PMID: 22763636] doi:10.1128/CMR.00012-12 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Raccurt CP. [Dirofilariasis, an emerging and underestimated zoonoses in France]. Med Trop (Mars). 1999;59:389-400. [PMID: 10816755] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Mittal M, Sathish KR, Bhatia PG, Chidamber BS. Ocular dirofilariasis in Dubai, UAE. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2008;56:325-6. [PMID: 18579995] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Latrofa MS, Weigl S, Dantas-Torres F, Annoscia G, Traversa D, Brianti E, et al. A multiplex PCR for the simultaneous detection of species of filarioids infesting dogs. Acta Trop. 2012;122:150-4. [PMID: 22248527] doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.01.006 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Fontanelli Sulekova L, Gabrielli S, De Angelis M, Milardi GL, Magnani C, Di Marco B, et al. Dirofilaria repens microfilariae from a human node fine-needle aspirate: a case report. BMC Infect Dis. 2016;16:248. [PMID: 27266512] doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1582-3 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (R.B., M.R., P.M., D.J.M.)University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy (D.O.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L17-0426.Reproducible Research Statement:Study protocol and statistical code: Not available. Data set: Available from Dr. Blaizot (e-mail, romain.[email protected]fr).This article was published at Annals.org on 31 October 2017. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDirofilaria repens microfilaremia in humans: Case description and literature reviewDirofilaria hongkongensis infection presenting as recurrent shoulder massZoonotic nematodes of wild carnivoresExposure of humans to the zoonotic nematode Dirofilaria immitis in Northern PortugalRecent advances on Dirofilaria repens in dogs and humans in Europe 6 February 2018Volume 168, Issue 3Page: 228-229KeywordsBloodDisclosureDoxycyclineFacial nerveFilariasisHematologic testsInfectious diseasesMosquitoesPolymerase chain reactionZoonoses ePublished: 31 October 2017 Issue Published: 6 February 2018 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2017 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...