Subconjunctival dirofilariasis in a healthy subject: a case report

• Published in: Journal of ophthalmic inflammation and infection Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 66 - 5
• Main Authors: Aghajani, Amirhossein, Rajabi, Mohammad Taher, Rafizadeh, Seyed Mohsen, Rahmanikhah, Elham, Samiee, Reza, Abdol Homayuni, Mohammad Reza, Zand, Amin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 18.12.2024; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: Antiparasitic agents; Brief Report; Case reports; Dirofilaria; Dogs; Humidity; Infections; Inflammation; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mosquitoes; Ocular Adnexa; Ocular Dirofilariasis; Ocular parasite; Ophthalmology; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Pathology; Vectors (Biology); Zoonoses; Ocular Dirofilariasis; Ocular Adnexa; Ocular parasite; Dirofilaria
• ISSN: 1869-5760; 1869-5760
• DOI: 10.1186/s12348-024-00447-5

Purpose To report a case of subconjunctival dirofilariasis presenting as an inflammatory mass-like lesion in a healthy individual. Case presentation A 20-year-old male with a recent history of wildlife exposure in a rural village presented with an inflammatory subconjunctival mass in his left eye. The lesion was surgically excised, and histopathological examination confirmed the presence of an immature nematode of Dirofilaria immitis . The patient was treated with oral ivermectin for two weeks postoperatively. After two months, the lesion had almost completely resolved, and no recurrence was observed during the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions Given the rarity of ocular dirofilariasis and its diverse presentations in different ocular and adnexal structures, prompt and complete excision followed by meticulous histopathological evaluation is crucial to guide appropriate management and achieve favorable outcomes.