Ocular Dirofilariasis Case in Thailand Confirmed by Molecular Analysis to Be Caused by Dirofilaria immitis

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Oct 11;106(1):204-207. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0764.

Abstract

A rare ocular dirofilariasis case along with the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome is reported. A whitish roundworm (10.6 cm long and 0.5 mm width) emerged from the pterygium, a triangular tissue growth on the cornea of the eye, of a male patient. The worm had a rounded anterior part, mouth without lips, smooth cuticular surface, and short rounded posterior tail with spicules: these features suggested that it was a male Dirofilaria sp. Molecular identification confirmed that the worm belonged to Dirofilaria immitis. This is the first molecular confirmation that D. immitis is a causative agent of ocular dirofilariasis in Thailand: dirofilariasis is a newly emerging zoonotic disease. Physicians should be alert to zoonotic filarial worms and knowledgeable about treatment of this disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Helminth / chemistry
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / chemistry
  • Dirofilaria immitis / classification
  • Dirofilaria immitis / genetics
  • Dirofilaria immitis / isolation & purification*
  • Dirofilariasis / diagnosis
  • Dirofilariasis / parasitology*
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / genetics
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Thailand

Substances

  • DNA, Helminth
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, ribosomal, 12S
  • Electron Transport Complex IV