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Dirofilaria Infections in Humans and Other Zoonotic Filariases

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Helminth Infections and their Impact on Global Public Health

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Abstract

Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens, the main Filarioidea of domestic and wild carnivores, are responsible for human infections worldwide. Other species of animal filariae that have frequently been reported in human patients include species from the genus Dirofilaria and nematodes from genera Onchocerca, Brugia, and Molinema. The higher frequency of human infection by Dirofilaria spp. compared to infections by other zoonotic filariae may be due to various factors. For example, awareness and attention of physicians for zoonotic filarial infection is higher in developed countries, where the dog represents an important reservoir for Dirofilaria worms. Climate change, together with the movement of infected dogs to previously unsuitable areas, is likely responsible for the increase in areas endemic for D. immitis and D. repens, with the consequence of an increased risk of infection for humans. Infection by D. repens is more frequent in Europe, where the documented human infections by D. immitis appear rather infrequent, but the situation is different in other countries, e.g., in the USA, where human infections by D. immitis are more frequently recorded. Infections by Dirofilaria worms are generally paucisymptomatic, but cases are also reported characterized by a severe clinical picture. The control of Dirofilaria infections in humans is essentially based on the control of the infection in dogs, and particular attention should be devoted to the transit of unprotected dogs (i.e., dogs that do not receive prophylactic treatment) from endemic areas, increasing the risk of acquiring filarial infections and of importing the infection in non-endemic areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Universita` degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Claudio Genchi, Claudio Bandi, Laura Kramer & Sara Epis

  2. Department of Veterinary Science, Universita` degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy

    Claudio Genchi, Claudio Bandi, Laura Kramer & Sara Epis

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  1. Claudio Genchi
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Correspondence to Laura Kramer .

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  1. Department of Translational Research, N.T.M.S., Università di Pisa, Medical School, Pisa, Italy

    Fabrizio Bruschi

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Genchi, C., Bandi, C., Kramer, L., Epis, S. (2022). Dirofilaria Infections in Humans and Other Zoonotic Filariases. In: Bruschi, F. (eds) Helminth Infections and their Impact on Global Public Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-00303-5_15

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