Ocular dirofilariasis: case reports

The article deals with the problem of ditofilariasis - the only facultative for the human in Russian Federation zoonotic parasitic helminth. Over the last years, there is a pronounced tendency to increased number of animals and humans dirofilariasis cases in the temperate climate area. The spread of the disease (which until quite recently was considered as endemic for tropical climate countries and southern regions of our country) is related to a wide causative agent circulation in the environment and to the spread of the great number of stray dogs and lack of adequate measures aimed on detection and treatment of infected animals. Moreover, there is a year-round risk of infection caused by «basement» Culex mosquitoes and in an urban setting. Herewith, the problem of dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis nematodes is poorly known and there are no sufficient data on its true prevalence in our country. In the article, clinical cases of ocular dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria repens are presented, diagnosed in Ural and North-Western Regions of the Russian Federation. Upon larvoscopic examination, Dirofilaria repens immature female was identified in all four cases. The article contains short literature review of dirofilariasis problem in Russia and morbidity prognosis. The need for thorough epidemiological anamnesis and use of ultrasound, laboratory and larvoscopic examination for clinical diagnosis of ocular dirofilariasis is reviewed. The main aspects of conservative and surgical treatment of parasitic infection are presented. The late diagnosis of dirofilariasis caused by absence of pathognomonic symptoms at early stages of the disease requires wider awareness and clinical suspicion of this pathology.