DIROFILARIA REPENS – CAUSE OF ZOONOSIS

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is zoonosis caused by genus Dirofilaria. The common couse of this zoonosis is species Dirofolaria repens (D. repens). This species is natural parasites of dogs, but in the last years in our country, sporadic cases of human dirofilariasis coused by D. repens have been described. Pathological and clinical sings in infected dogs are non-characteristic. This species lives in subcutaneous tissue, the space between ligaments and blood vessels, in kidney and lymphatic nodes. In humans, the most common sites are conjuctiva and subcutaneous tissue. Diagnosis of infection in dogs is based on anamnestic data, clinical signs and results of specific diagnostic tests for detection of microfilariae in peripheral blood. The therapy is aimed at destruction of adult forms and microfilariae in the peripheral blood of dogs. Mechanical or chemical methods and drugs can be used as prophylactic measures against filariasis in dogs. With geographical spreading of D. repens infection in dogs, we can inspect more cases of human dirofilariasis. Therefore, we should put an accent on continuous control, follow-up of prevalence and distribution of this infection in dogs, which must be considered as a health problem.

Keywords

• Dirofilaria repens
• filariasis