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Human pulmonary dirofilariasis: A case report and review of the recent Japanese literature
Author(s) -
MIYOSHI Tatsu,
TSUBOUCHI Hiroaki,
IWASAKI Akinori,
SHIRAISHI Takeshi,
NABESHIMA Kazuki,
SHIRAKUSA Takayuki
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2006.00855.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , dirofilariasis , dirofilaria immitis , zoonosis , solitary pulmonary nodule , pleural effusion , lung , nodule (geology) , pathology , radiology , veterinary medicine , helminths , immunology , paleontology , biology
Human pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare zoonotic infection caused by the dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis , which is transmitted via a vector/intermediate host, generally the mosquito. The authors present a case of histologically diagnosed human pulmonary dirofilariasis, in which the lesion was resected using video‐assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The authors also review 24 cases of such zoonosis reported in Japan from 1998 to 2004. Of these 24 patients with human pulmonary dirofilariasis, 12 (50%) were men (mean age 54 years, range 29–80 years) and 67% were asymptomatic. Most patients (83%) had a solitary lung nodule, 95% of the lesions were <30 mm and 13% had a pleural effusion. VATS was performed to obtain a histopathological diagnosis in the majority (61%) of patients whom the authors reviewed. VATS would appear to be the best method for diagnosing pulmonary dirofilariasis.