Review of Dirofilaria spp. infection in humans and animals in Iran

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is a metazoonoses transmitted by certain mosquito genera (Culicidae: Diptera). Chiefly canids are the reservoirs of Dirofilaria spp. This article analyzed all published records and researches relevant to Dirofilaria in Iran, to provide a basis for future studies in Iran and around the world. All of the important data from human and animal cases that included the pathogen and its reservoir, dispersion, and retrospective studies were investigated and analyzed. Furthermore, the natural history of parasites, pathogenicity, diagnosis, treatment, control, and the final status of the disease in the world was briefly mentioned. Two species of the genus Dirofilaria, Dirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) and Dirofilaria repens, are detected in Iran. Till now, 13 human cases have been formally reported including seven subcutaneous and three ocular cases of D. repens, a four cases of D. immitis, including a rare case in testicular hydrocele, one ocular and one pre-ocular, a subconjunctival and two pulmonary cases suspected to be D. immitis. Animal and human infections have been recorded in 11 provinces of Iran. Different investigators have reported D. immitis in dogs (with the frequency of 0.95–62.8%), jackals (2.5 57.4%), foxes (5.7–50%), wolves (20–50%), and cats (0.8%) and D. repens in dogs (1.4–60.8%) and jackals (10%) in different areas of the country. The reports on Dirofilaria in Iran are to some extent scattered as regarded to distribution and other features of the disease. More studies should be taken in dirofilariasis in Iran, specifically in regions from where there are no reports.