CLINICAL CASES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2001 December;160(6):189-92

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Human dirofilariasis: clinical cases with particular localisation

Fruttaldo L., Mongiò F., Schettino G., Gatti G., Deambrogio V.

Presidio Ospedaliero «S. Spirito», Casale Monferrato (Alessandria), UOA di Malattie Infettive

Human dirofilariasis is a benign parasitic disease due to the presence of nematodes of animal origin. The genus dirofilaria includes common parasites of domestic and wild animals responsible for human infestation through vectors such as Aedes, Anopheles and Culex mosquitos. The geographical distribution of the human disease is mainly in the Mediterranean basin, first of all in Italy. The lesions are not specific and are notified as nodules and/or migrant subcutaneous or submucosae oedemas.
The most frequent locations are in the upper half part of the body, especially in the head. Two cases are described.