Human Parasitic Diseases

Zoonotic filariasis because of Dirofilaria repens (D. repens) is prevalent in several regions of the world. It is considered an emerging zoonosis, in view of recent rise of human D. repens infections in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Most of the documented cases of human dirofilariasis recorded in India had ocular infections, but very few subcutaneous dirofilariasis have been reported. We hereby report a case of subcutaneous human dirofilariasis because of Dirofilaria species. Because dirofilariasis is a vector-borne transmitted disease, their distribution and infection rates have undergone substantial alterations influenced by global climate change. In spite of advances in our knowledge of D. repens and the pathologies that they inflict on different hosts, there are still many unidentified aspects of dirofilariasis. This review is focused on human dirofilariasis, including the basic morphology of Dirofilaria species; the climate and human behavioral factors that influence distribution dynamics; the disease pathology; the host–parasite relationship; and the clinical management of human infections.