National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Dirofilariasis


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Dirofilariasis refers to infections caused by Dirofilaria roundworms. Although the natural hosts of these roundworms are dogs, wild canids (such as wolves and foxes) and raccoons, humans can be infected with Dirofilaria larvae through mosquito bites. Signs and symptoms of dirofilariasis generally include nodules under the skin or lung granulomas (small nodules formed by an inflammatory reaction) which may be asymptomatic. Some people with dirofilariasis of the lungs may also experience cough, chest pain, fever, wheezing, chills, and pleural effusion (excess fluid between the tissues that line the lungs and the chest cavity). Dirofilariasis is treated with surgical removal of lung granulomas and skin nodules.[1][2]
Last updated: 4/27/2016

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • You can obtain information on this topic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is recognized as the lead federal agency for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Dirofilariasis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  1. Dirofilariasis FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 2012; http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/dirofilariasis/faqs.html.
  2. Alena Klochko, MD. Dirofilariasis. Medscape Reference. October 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/236698-overview.