Periorbital mass with cellulitis caused by dirofilaria.

Oct-Dec 2011

Joseph K, Vinayakumar AR, Criton S, Vishnu MS, Pariyaram SE.

Source

Department of Microbiology, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur - 680 555, Kerala, India. katherinejc17@gmail.com

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria, a parasite of domestic and wild animals. The disease is transmitted by inoculation of mosquitoes infected with the microfilariae during their blood meal. Accidental infection of man results in lung nodule, subcutaneous mass anywhere in the body or ocular lesion that may be subconjunctival or periorbital. The incidence of ocular dirofilariasis is on the rise in several parts of India particularly in Kerala. Here we report a case of ocular dirofilariasis with cellulitis presenting as a periorbital mass.

Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology