Human dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria repens in France. A review of reported cases.

In France, more than 5,000 dogs have been tested for Dirofilaria in 1986. Among them, 1.4% harboured Dirofilaria repens microfilariae in their blood. Most of the positive cases were from Corsica and southern France. The reported cases of human dirofilariasis probably or surely due to D. repens in France are here reviewed. About 60 cases have been observed but approximately 30, more or less well documented, have been published from 1900 to 1996. A subconjunctival location of the worm and a subcutaneous nodule enclosing an immature adult Dirofilaria are the commonest clinical forms. The subcutaneous locations described are: skull, cheek, breast, inguinal area, buttocks, arms and legs. The findings of a worm during a pancreatectomy and in a perirectal nodule have also been reported. Furthermore, two cases of testicular location with painful symptoms have been observed. The cases were diagnosed by histological examination of the nodule or, more efficiently, by extraction and morphological study of the worm. Blood hypereosinophilia was exceptionally observed. To our knowledge, microfilariae have been found in the blood of only one patient. The geographical areas of infection of the patients were mostly Corsica, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Languedoc-Roussillon regions.