Dirofilaria repens - Adult worm migrating under conjunctiva

France, Rouhette Hervé

Subcutaneous or ocular dirofilariasis is caused in the Old World by Dirofilaria repens, a parasite of small carnivorous, or in the New World by D. tenuis, a parasite of racoon. Mosquitoes are vectors. The infection is unusual in Man, and generally assumes the features of an immature adult worm migrating under conjunctiva. The differential diagnosis with loiasis relies upon results from epidemiological questionaire.