Human pulmonary dirofilariasis with secondary myocarditis

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2019 May 16:52:e20180461. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0461-2018.

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is a little-known zoonosis, with dogs and cats as definitive hosts. It is caused by nematodes and transmitted by mosquito bites. We report the case of a 67-year-old man with a consumptive syndrome with two subpleural pulmonary opacities. A transthoracic lung biopsy revealed a Dirofilaria worm. Myocardial nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) demonstrated dilated cardiomyopathy after myocarditis related to dirofilariasis. Human infection is rare and occurs accidentally. The most common radiological alteration is a mainly subpleural coin lesion. Dirofilariasis is a neglected emergent disease and knowledge about it is important for differential diagnoses from neoplastic pulmonary nodules.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Dirofilariasis / complications*
  • Dirofilariasis / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / complications*
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Myocarditis / diagnosis
  • Myocarditis / etiology*