Pulmonary dirofilariasis
Monchy, D.; Levenes, H.; Guegan, H.; Poey, C.; Dubourdieu, D.
Medecine Tropicale Revue du Corps de Sante Colonial 53(3): 366-371
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-682X PMID: 7904713 Document Number: 412371
Dirofilariosis usually concerns dogs among which it is transmitted by mosquito bites. Human infection is rare and we describe here a case observed in a 75 years old woman in New Caledonia. A systematic pulmonary radiograph showed suspicious pulmonary nodules. At microscopic examination one can see pulmonary infarctus with thrombosis and Dirofilaria immitis inside a vessel. Diagnosis is usually made by histologic examination because biological investigations are of a little interest. Surgical treatment is enough. Chemioprophylaxia for dogs can reduce the risks of man infection.