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Published on: February 4, 2018
Subcutaneous dirofilariasis in Nova Scotia
D J Haldane1, B L Johnston, N M Walsh
1Department of Microbiology and Medicine; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases; and Department of Pathology, Division of Anatomic Pathology, Victoria General Hospital and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Summary
A rare case of dirofilariasis, a parasitic infection, was diagnosed in an adult in Atlantic Canada. The condition presented as a subcutaneous nodule caused by Dirofilaria ursi.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary parasitology
- Human infectious diseases
- Medical entomology
Background:
- Dirofilariasis is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by filarial nematodes.
- Subcutaneous nodules are a common presentation of dirofilariasis in humans.
- Dirofilaria ursi is a rare cause of human dirofilariasis, typically found in bears.
Observation:
- A case of dirofilariasis in a 78-year-old woman from Nova Scotia is presented.
- The patient developed a subcutaneous nodule, which was surgically excised.
- Histological examination confirmed the presence of a nematode consistent with Dirofilaria ursi.
Findings:
- Identification of Dirofilaria ursi as the causative agent of subcutaneous dirofilariasis.
- The case represents the first documented instance of adult dirofilariasis in Atlantic Canada.
- Histological findings provided crucial evidence for parasite identification.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for Dirofilaria ursi to cause human infections in new geographic regions.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering rare etiological agents in subcutaneous nodule diagnoses.
- Underscores the need for increased awareness of zoonotic parasitic diseases in public health surveillance.
