Human dirofilariasis: An emerging zoonotic nematodal infection - A case series

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is an emerging parasitic infection caused by Dirofilaria spp., a parasite carried by domestic dogs, cats, and other wild animals. Humans become accidental dead end hosts when inoculated with microfilariae by blood sucking arthropods like mosquitoes. Subcutaneous dirofilariasis is an accidental human infection that presents as subcutaneous nodules in the body resulting from an inflammatory reaction in response to the infection. We report a case series of human dirofilariasis to highlight its increasing trend from a tertiary care hospital in Kerala, South India.