ZOONOTIC SUBCUTANEOUS DIROFILARIASIS IN IRAN

Abstract

Zoonotic dirofilariasis has been reported sporadically from many parts of the world, but there are few reports of this condition from Iran. In this article, we present a case with subcutaneous infection due to Dirofilaria repens and discuss the significant aspects of the disease. The patient was a 22-year-old man who acquired the infection during his conscription in Karaj and was referred to us with a mass containing a viable filarial nematode in subcutaneous tissues of the forehead. The nematode was misidentified as Wuchereria bancrofti in a local laboratory, based on its macroscopic appearance. Cross-sectional studies and anatomic characterization of the parasite were essential to make an accurate diagnosis, although the parasite’s geographic distribution and the patient’s travel history were also helpful.