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Dirofilariasis

MedGen UID:
4344
•Concept ID:
C0012602
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Dirofilariases; Disease, Heartworm; Heartworm Disease
SNOMED CT: Infection by Dirofilaria (73328005); Dirofilariasis (73328005); Dirofilariosis (73328005); Infection caused by Dirofilaria (73328005)
Modes of inheritance:
Not genetically inherited
MedGen UID:
988794
•Concept ID:
CN307044
•
Finding
Source: Orphanet
clinical entity without genetic inheritance.
See: This record
Not genetically inherited (Orphanet)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0015636
Orphanet: ORPHA166291

Definition

Dirofilariasis is a form of filariasis (see this term), caused by the filarial nematode of the genus <i>Dirofilaria</i> (including <i>Dirofilaria repens</i>, <i>Dirofilaria immitis</i>), which is transmitted by mosquitoes. The disease is characterized by the presence of subcutaneous nodules (or a conjunctival form that develops slowly and that can be painless to tender), edema and erythema at the site of parasite localization, a feeling of 'crawling' under the skin, and the ''Calabar'' swelling (similar to thatin loiasis (see this term). The latter may last a few days and recurrences are possible. Common localizations of dirofilaria are head and neck, most commonly in the periorbital region, the limbs and trunk. [from ORDO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVDirofilariasis
Follow this link to review classifications for Dirofilariasis in Orphanet.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Human pulmonary dirofilariasis: an unexpected differential diagnosis for a solitary lung lesion.
Theodore SG, Sawkins HJ, Mathew M, Yadav S, Norton R
Med J Aust 2023 Nov 20;219(10):455-456. Epub 2023 Sep 27 doi: 10.5694/mja2.52115. PMID: 37758235
Clinical Characteristics of Human Pulmonary Dirofilariasis in Japan: An Uncommon Differential Diagnosis of a Solitary Pulmonary Nodule.
Oshima K
Jpn J Infect Dis 2023 Sep 22;76(5):310-313. Epub 2023 May 31 doi: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2022.617. PMID: 37258177
Dirofilarial nodule as a differential diagnosis for subcutaneous lumps in children.
Wijekoon N, Antony D, Muhunthan T, Samarasinghe M
Pediatr Surg Int 2022 Dec 21;39(1):55. doi: 10.1007/s00383-022-05348-z. PMID: 36542175

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Mucocutaneous manifestations of helminth infections: Trematodes and cestodes.
Lupi O, Downing C, Lee M, Bravo F, Giglio P, Woc-Colburn L, Tyring SK
J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Dec;73(6):947-57; quiz 957-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.11.035. PMID: 26568338
Mucocutaneous manifestations of helminth infections: Nematodes.
Lupi O, Downing C, Lee M, Pino L, Bravo F, Giglio P, Sethi A, Klaus S, Sangueza OP, Fuller C, Mendoza N, Ladizinski B, Woc-Colburn L, Tyring SK
J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Dec;73(6):929-44; quiz 945-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.11.034. PMID: 26568337
Increasing risks of human dirofilariasis in travelers.
Diaz JH
J Travel Med 2015 Mar-Apr;22(2):116-23. Epub 2014 Nov 11 doi: 10.1111/jtm.12174. PMID: 25384527
Dirofilarial infections in Europe.
Genchi C, Kramer LH, Rivasi F
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011 Oct;11(10):1307-17. Epub 2011 Mar 21 doi: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0247. PMID: 21417922
Pets and Parasites.
Juckett G
Am Fam Physician 1997 Nov 1;56(7):1763-74, 1777-8. PMID: 9371008

Diagnosis

Dirofilaria immitis Pulmonary Dirofilariasis, Slovakia.
Miterpáková M, Antolová D, Rampalová J, Undesser M, Krajčovič T, Víchová B
Emerg Infect Dis 2022 Feb;28(2):482-485. doi: 10.3201/eid2802.211963. PMID: 35076370Free PMC Article
Subconjunctival dirofilariasis.
Wylęgała A, Wróblewska-Czajka E, Wylęgała E
Am J Ophthalmol 2022 Jan;233:e1. Epub 2021 Oct 22 doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.10.016. PMID: 34695396
Oral dirofilariasis.
Desai RS, Pai N, Nehete AP, Singh JS
Indian J Med Microbiol 2015 Oct-Dec;33(4):593-4. doi: 10.4103/0255-0857.167342. PMID: 26470974
Oral dirofilariasis.
Janardhanan M, Rakesh S, Savithri V
Indian J Dent Res 2014 Mar-Apr;25(2):236-9. doi: 10.4103/0970-9290.135932. PMID: 24992859
Zoonoses.
Goscienski PJ
Pediatr Infect Dis 1983 Jan-Feb;2(1):69-81. doi: 10.1097/00006454-198301000-00018. PMID: 6340080

Therapy

How Italian practitioners manage dirofilariosis in dogs and cats? Data of a second national survey.
Genchi M, Kramer L, Venco L, Ciuca L, Vismarra A
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023 Nov;46:100934. Epub 2023 Sep 29 doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100934. PMID: 37935535
New paradigms in research on Dirofilaria immitis.
Geary TG
Parasit Vectors 2023 Jul 21;16(1):247. doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-05762-9. PMID: 37480077Free PMC Article
Albendazole and Mebendazole as Anti-Parasitic and Anti-Cancer Agents: an Update.
Chai JY, Jung BK, Hong SJ
Korean J Parasitol 2021 Jun;59(3):189-225. Epub 2021 Jun 21 doi: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.3.189. PMID: 34218593Free PMC Article
Mucocutaneous manifestations of helminth infections: Trematodes and cestodes.
Lupi O, Downing C, Lee M, Bravo F, Giglio P, Woc-Colburn L, Tyring SK
J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Dec;73(6):947-57; quiz 957-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.11.035. PMID: 26568338
Mucocutaneous manifestations of helminth infections: Nematodes.
Lupi O, Downing C, Lee M, Pino L, Bravo F, Giglio P, Sethi A, Klaus S, Sangueza OP, Fuller C, Mendoza N, Ladizinski B, Woc-Colburn L, Tyring SK
J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Dec;73(6):929-44; quiz 945-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.11.034. PMID: 26568337

Prognosis

Human dirofilariosis in Austria: the past, the present, the future.
Riebenbauer K, Weber PB, Walochnik J, Karlhofer F, Winkler S, Dorfer S, Auer H, Valencak J, Laimer M, Handisurya A
Parasit Vectors 2021 Apr 29;14(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-04696-4. PMID: 33926526Free PMC Article
Mucocutaneous manifestations of helminth infections: Trematodes and cestodes.
Lupi O, Downing C, Lee M, Bravo F, Giglio P, Woc-Colburn L, Tyring SK
J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Dec;73(6):947-57; quiz 957-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.11.035. PMID: 26568338
Mucocutaneous manifestations of helminth infections: Nematodes.
Lupi O, Downing C, Lee M, Pino L, Bravo F, Giglio P, Sethi A, Klaus S, Sangueza OP, Fuller C, Mendoza N, Ladizinski B, Woc-Colburn L, Tyring SK
J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Dec;73(6):929-44; quiz 945-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.11.034. PMID: 26568337
Dirofilarial infections in Europe.
Genchi C, Kramer LH, Rivasi F
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011 Oct;11(10):1307-17. Epub 2011 Mar 21 doi: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0247. PMID: 21417922
Filariases.
Davis BR
Dermatol Clin 1989 Apr;7(2):313-21. PMID: 2670375

Clinical prediction guides

Human dirofilariosis in Austria: the past, the present, the future.
Riebenbauer K, Weber PB, Walochnik J, Karlhofer F, Winkler S, Dorfer S, Auer H, Valencak J, Laimer M, Handisurya A
Parasit Vectors 2021 Apr 29;14(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-04696-4. PMID: 33926526Free PMC Article
Cardiopulmonary and inflammatory biomarkers in heartworm disease.
Carretón E, Morchón R, Montoya-Alonso JA
Parasit Vectors 2017 Nov 9;10(Suppl 2):534. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2448-2. PMID: 29143665Free PMC Article
Dirofilarial infections in Europe.
Genchi C, Kramer LH, Rivasi F
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011 Oct;11(10):1307-17. Epub 2011 Mar 21 doi: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0247. PMID: 21417922
Immunopathology of Dirofilaria immitis infection.
Simón F, Kramer LH, Román A, Blasini W, Morchón R, Marcos-Atxutegi C, Grandi G, Genchi C
Vet Res Commun 2007 Feb;31(2):161-71. Epub 2006 Dec 23 doi: 10.1007/s11259-006-3387-0. PMID: 17216316
Zoonoses.
Goscienski PJ
Pediatr Infect Dis 1983 Jan-Feb;2(1):69-81. doi: 10.1097/00006454-198301000-00018. PMID: 6340080

Recent systematic reviews

Human Dirofilariasis Caused by Dirofilaria repens in Sri Lanka from 1962 to 2020.
Balendran T, Yatawara L, Wickramasinghe S
Acta Parasitol 2022 Jun;67(2):628-639. Epub 2022 Apr 5 doi: 10.1007/s11686-022-00543-3. PMID: 35380404
Human dirofilariosis in Austria: the past, the present, the future.
Riebenbauer K, Weber PB, Walochnik J, Karlhofer F, Winkler S, Dorfer S, Auer H, Valencak J, Laimer M, Handisurya A
Parasit Vectors 2021 Apr 29;14(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-04696-4. PMID: 33926526Free PMC Article
Filarial worms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diversity in animals from Iran with emphasis on human cases.
Ghasemi E, Shamsinia S, Taghipour A, Anvari D, Bahadory S, Shariatzadeh SA, Kordi B, Majidiani H, Borji H, Chaechi Nosrati M, Yousefi A, Shams M
Parasitology 2020 Aug;147(9):909-921. Epub 2020 Apr 6 doi: 10.1017/S003118202000058X. PMID: 32249728Free PMC Article

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