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Human and canine dirofilariasis in Greece
1Department of Parasitology, Entomology and Tropical Diseases, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
Parassitologia
|November 5, 1998
Summary
Human dirofilariasis, a parasitic disease, is increasingly reported in Greece, with Dirofilaria repens identified in human cases. Despite a high incidence in dogs, human infections remain relatively rare, posing a potential public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Parasitology
- Public Health
Background:
- Human dirofilariasis is historically rare in Greece, with fewer than 20 cases reported before 1990.
- Clinical manifestations typically involve subcutaneous nodules, with rare instances of ocular dirofilariasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document recent cases of human dirofilariasis in Greece.
- To investigate the prevalence of filarial nematodes in dogs and compare it to human infection rates.
- To assess the public health implications of dirofilariasis in the region.
Main Methods:
- Morphological identification of nematode worms from human cases.
- Histological examination of subcutaneous nodules from infected individuals.
- Filarial nematode recovery and identification from canine hosts in Greece.
Main Results:
- Eight new human cases of dirofilariasis were identified in Athens in the last six years, with two involving ocular complications.
- Twelve additional unpublished cases were detected in Thessaloniki.
- All human infections were caused by Dirofilaria repens.
- Canine infection rates with various filarial nematodes ranged from 12% to 37%.
Conclusions:
- Dirofilariasis, particularly caused by Dirofilaria repens, is emerging in Greece.
- A significant disparity exists between the high prevalence in dogs and the lower incidence in humans.
- The presence of common animal hosts and insect vectors highlights dirofilariasis as a potential public health risk in Greece.