Dirofilariasis - an emergent human parasitosis in Romania

Abstract

Changing vector habitats due to climate change increase the risk of less common vector-borne diseases spreading to temperate areas. An example of such a disease is dirofilariasis. The present article is a case presentation of ocular dirofilariasis. The peculiarities of this case and its implications to public health are presented herein, in addition to a literature review of the epidemiological data regarding dirofilariasis in dogs and humans. A16-year-old adolescent, who had never travelled outside Galaţi County, was admitted to the hospital's pediatric department with conjunctival edema, foreign body perception, redness and local pain in the left eye. A parasitological exam identified Dirofilaria repens. The outcome of the condition was favorable. Although canine dirofilariasis is more often encountered by veterinary practices, only few human cases had hither to been reported in Romania, none in Galaţi County. A national Romanian prevalence study on dirofilariasis in animals is called for in order to improve the management of the disease, both in veterinary and human medicine.