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CASE REPORT
Subconjunctival Dirofilaria repens infection in a human patient in Poland: a case report
1
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
2
The Department of Ophthalmology, The Regional Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland
Submission date: 2025-11-19
Final revision date: 2025-12-28
Acceptance date: 2025-12-29
Online publication date: 2025-12-31
Corresponding author
Katarzyna Kowalczyk
The Department of Ophthalmology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Collegium Medicum, School of Medicine, Olsztyn., Olsztyn, Poland
The Department of Ophthalmology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Collegium Medicum, School of Medicine, Olsztyn., Olsztyn, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Dirofilaria repens is a parasite of dogs and other carnivorous mammals, transmitted primarily by mosquitoes. Humans are only rarely identified as accidental hosts of this nematode; however, in recent years an increasing number of human dirofilariasis cases has been documented. We present a case of human D. repens infection in Poland, a parasite traditionally endemic to warm climatic zones.
Aim:
This case report presents a human D. repens infection in Poland diagnosed primarily on the basis of ocular symptoms, emphasizing the atypical geographic setting and the need to consider parasitic infections in the differential diagnosis of ocular lesions in temperate climates.
Case study:
The 49-year-old woman developed an ophthalmological infection that manifested as a subconjunctival, light motile mass. The intact worm was surgically extracted under local anesthesia and subsequently identified as D. repens at the Parasitology Laboratory of the National Institute of Public Health in Warsaw.
Results and discussion:
The report reviews the typical geographic distribution of D. repens and its increasing occurrence in atypical regions, including Poland. Factors contributing to this spread, such as climate change and the migration of carnivores or insects are discussed. Increased human mobility and globalization may also represent important contributing factors. Common clinical manifestations, particularly ocular involvement, and current treatment approaches are summarized.
Conclusions:
Human dirofilariasis caused by D. repens is among fastest-spreading zoonosis in Europe. Given its emergence in cooler climates, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of atypical ophthalmological lesions.
Dirofilaria repens is a parasite of dogs and other carnivorous mammals, transmitted primarily by mosquitoes. Humans are only rarely identified as accidental hosts of this nematode; however, in recent years an increasing number of human dirofilariasis cases has been documented. We present a case of human D. repens infection in Poland, a parasite traditionally endemic to warm climatic zones.
Aim:
This case report presents a human D. repens infection in Poland diagnosed primarily on the basis of ocular symptoms, emphasizing the atypical geographic setting and the need to consider parasitic infections in the differential diagnosis of ocular lesions in temperate climates.
Case study:
The 49-year-old woman developed an ophthalmological infection that manifested as a subconjunctival, light motile mass. The intact worm was surgically extracted under local anesthesia and subsequently identified as D. repens at the Parasitology Laboratory of the National Institute of Public Health in Warsaw.
Results and discussion:
The report reviews the typical geographic distribution of D. repens and its increasing occurrence in atypical regions, including Poland. Factors contributing to this spread, such as climate change and the migration of carnivores or insects are discussed. Increased human mobility and globalization may also represent important contributing factors. Common clinical manifestations, particularly ocular involvement, and current treatment approaches are summarized.
Conclusions:
Human dirofilariasis caused by D. repens is among fastest-spreading zoonosis in Europe. Given its emergence in cooler climates, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of atypical ophthalmological lesions.
FUNDING
None declared.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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