Human dirofilariosis (D.repens) in the subcutaneous tissues of the head: Clinical case in the department of neurosurgery of the Interregional Clinical and Diagnostic Center of Kazan

Abstract

Human Dirofilariasis is a zoonosis caused by thin nematodes of Dirofilaria species (D. repens, D. immitis, D. tenuis и D. Ursi) that belong to the Onchocercidae family. Larval stages of Dirofilaria are usually occur in their primary hosts like cats and dogs and rarely invade incidental hosts - human. In the article described a clinical case of a patient with skull base meningioma who was admitted to the neurosurgical department for elective surgical treatment. The dense nodule was palpated in the subcutaneous tissue of the frontal area of the head. While removing the subcutaneous node a thin white alive worm was evacuated during the surgery. The microscopical examination verified D. repens. Human Dirofilariasis is a rare disease in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. However, there is observed a growth of the number of dirofilariasis cases in the recent years. Nine patients with dirofilariasis were diagnosed in the Republic of Tatarstan within 2019-2022.