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The Rational Basis of Thrombosis Models
Published in Josef Hladovec, Antithrombotic Drugs in Thrombosis Models, 2020
Biological inducing agents include infections like bacterial endocarditis,202 parasitic infestations such as dirofilariasis and angiostrongylosis.104 This group also covers the inductions by some neoplastic processes and immune reactions.104, 203 They do not all depend solely on the dose of the inducing agent, but also on the responsiveness of animals. For routine purposes, an unsatisfactory quantification and reproducibility has to be expected.
Pulmonary Dogworm (Dirofilaria immitis) Infection Presenting as a Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
Published in Wickii T. Vigneswaran, Thoracic Surgery, 2019
Pulmonary nematode infections are well-known entities and have been reported from all parts of the world. There are different varieties of worms that cause pulmonary infections, with some being more common than others depending on endemic nature of the parasite. Pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare zoonotic nematode infection that can be mistaken for a malignant neoplasm. We describe a rare case of a patient with Dirofilaria immitis (D. immitis) in the lung presenting as a solid nodule.
Mosquitoes
Published in Gail Miriam Moraru, Jerome Goddard, The Goddard Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance, Seventh Edition, 2019
Gail Miriam Moraru, Jerome Goddard
Numerous filarial worms are transmitted to humans and other mammals by mosquitoes, deer flies, and black flies. Examples include the causative agents of Bancroftian and Malayan filariasis (discussed earlier), loiasis, onchocerciasis, and dirofilariasis (dog heartworm). Other filarial worms may or may not cause symptomatic disease and are less well known (and thus have no common name), such as Mansonella ozzardi, M. streptocerca, M. perstans, Dirofilaria tenuis, D. ursi, D. repens, and others. Beaver and Orihel44 reported 39 such cases that were caused by Dirofilaria immitis (dog heartworm), other Dirofilaria spp., Dipetalonema spp., and Brugia spp. Recently, there seems to be an increase in cases of human subcutaneous dirofilariasis (HSD), and some researchers think this is an emerging disease. One paper reported a cluster of 14 cases of HSD in humans in Russia from February 2003 through July 2004, the highest number of cases of HSD diagnosed worldwide in such a short period.45
Human subcutaneous dirofilariasis: the ‘migrating’ skin tumor
Published in Case Reports in Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, 2021
Michelle Alexandra Mistry, Jens Hoejvig, Marie Helleberg, Christen Rune Stensvold, Pikka Jokelainen, Anders Noehr, Christian Bonde
Higher awareness of Dirofilaria infections is required in the medical field [10]. Surgeons may initially mistake dirofilariasis for malignant disease if they are unacquainted with the infection. This can lead to significant distress for the patient and initial mismanagement and may include the unnecessary use of antibiotics [11,12]. Knowledge on (i) the typical location/migration of the nematode, (ii) whether Dirofilaria spp. are endemic to the region, (iii) the travel history of the patient, as well as (iv) the clinical symptoms associated with infection are all essential to establishing a diagnosis of dirofilariasis. Dirofilaria repens is often noted in the face, particularly around the eyes. High-resolution ultrasound imaging is useful for detecting movements of the parasite in subcutaneous nodules [13]. Distinguishing Dirofilaria from other nematodes mainly relies on morphology (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) and/or DNA-based analyses [9,14]. Subcutaneous dirofilariasis should be treated by extraction of the nematode or surgical removal of the nodule. The benefits of anthelminthic drugs such as ivermectin are not clear; however, such drugs might help to stop the migration of the parasite [14,15].
Extensive Chorio-retinal Damage Due to Dirofilaria Repens- Report of a Case
Published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 2021
Prasad Gupta, Suchitra Pradeep, Jyotirmay Biswas, Pukhraj Rishi, Raman Muthusamy
Ocular Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by D. repens and D. imitis. The natural reservoirs of these parasites include canines, felines, foxes and racoons. The intermediate hosts are arthropods like Aedes, Culex and Anopheles. It is believed that these parasites enter the eye through the ciliary circulation or through the optic nerve head. Humans can get infected by eating raw meat, raw uncooked fish, or from contaminated water. Dirofilaria can enter through mosquito bites also. The nematode parasite can cause pulmonary, subcutaneous or ocular lesions. Ocular complaints of redness, swelling, increased lacrimation and floaters are common. It is important to remove the parasite in toto as it can lead to structural damage to the eye, the retina in particular. It can lead to intense inflammation leading to panophthalmitis. DUSN is a multifocal chorio-retinitis caused by nematodes like Toxocara canis, Baylisacaris procyonis, Ancylostoma, Gnathostoma spinigerum, Strongyloides stercoralis and Brugia malayi. It is characterized by the presence of gray-white lesions in the deep retina, optic disc edema, vitreous inflammation, narrowing of the retinal optic vessels, optic nerve atrophy, and development of focal, linear crisscrossing or diffuse atrophic changes in the retinal pigment epithelium.4 DUSN results in unilateral loss of peripheral and central vision due to retinal inflammation and degeneration.5 Our patient also showed DUSN-like retinal picture. We have earlier reported a case of panuveitis cause due to Wuchereria Bancrofti which also concludes that a dead worm in the vitreous cavity can often incite a lot of inflammation and vitritis.6