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Dirofilariasis

[Dirofilaria immitis] [D. repens] [D. tenuis] [D. ursi]

Causal Agents

Zoonotic filarid nematodes in the genus Dirofilaria. The normal hosts for Dirofilaria spp. in nature are usually carnivores. The most commonly seen species in human patients are D. repens, D. tenuis, and D. immitis (the dog heartworm). Humans have also been infected with D. ursi, D. subdermata, and D. striata.

Life Cycles

During a blood meal, an infected mosquito (Aedes, Culex, Anopheles, Mansonia) introduces third-stage filarial larvae of Dirofilaria immitis into the skin of the definitive host, which is usually a domestic dog or coyote in the United States (although a wide variety of other animals can also be infected, including felids, mustelids, pinnipeds, beaver, horses, and humans), where they penetrate into the bite wound The number 1. In the definitive host, the L3 larvae undergo two more molts into L4 and adults. Adults reside in pulmonary arteries, and are occasionally found in the right ventricle of the heart The number 2. Adult females are usually 230-310 mm long by 350 µm wide; males are usually 120-190 mm long by 300 µm wide. Adults can live for 5 - 10 years. In the heart, the female worms are capable of producing microfilariae over their lifespan. The microfilariae are found in peripheral blood The number 3. A mosquito ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal The number 4. After ingestion, the microfilariae migrate from the mosquito's midgut through the hemocoel to the Malpighian tubules in the abdomen The number 5. There the microfilariae develop into first-stage larvae The number 6 and subsequently into third-stage infective larvae The number 7. The third-stage infective larvae migrate to the mosquito's proboscis The number 8 and can infect another definitive host when it takes a blood meal The number 1. In humans The number 9, D. immitis larvae tend to follow the same migratory pathway as in the canine host, ending up in the lungs, where they often lodge in small-caliber vessels, causing infarcts and typical "coin lesions" visible on radiographs.

During a blood meal, an infected mosquito (Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, Mansonia) introduces third-stage filarial larvae of Dirofilaria repens onto the skin of the canine definitive host (but also occasionally humans, especially in Europe), where they penetrate into the bite wound The number 1. In the definitive host, the L3 larvae undergo two more molts into L4 and adults, the latter of which resides in subcutaneous tissues The number 2. Adult females are usually 100-170 mm long by 460-650 µm wide; males are usually 50-70 mm long by 370-450 µm wide. Adults can live for 5 - 10 years. In subcutaneous tissue, the female worms are capable of producing microfilariae over their lifespan. The microfilariae are found in peripheral blood The number 3. A mosquito ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal The number 4. After ingestion, the microfilariae migrate from the mosquito's midgut through the hemocoel to the Malpighian tubules in the abdomen The number 5. There the microfilariae develop into first-stage larvae The number 6 and subsequently into third-stage infective larvae The number 7. The third-stage infective larvae migrate to the mosquito's proboscis The number 8 and can infect another definitive host when it takes a blood meal The number 1. In humans The number 9, D. repens usually manifests as either a wandering worm in the subcutaneous tissue or a granulomatous nodule, although there are reports of pulmonary dirofilariasis with this species .

During a blood meal, an infected mosquito (Aedes, Anopheles, and possibly others) introduces third-stage filarial larvae of Dirofilaria tenuis onto the skin of the raccoon definitive host (but also occasionally humans), where they penetrate into the bite wound The number 1. In the definitive host, the L3 larvae undergo two more molts into L4 and adults, the latter of which resides in subcutaneous tissues The number 2. Adult females are usually 80-130 mm long by 260-360 µm wide; males are usually 40-50 mm long by 190-260 µm wide. Adults can live for 5 - 10 years. In subcutaneous tissue, the female worms are capable of producing microfilariae over their lifespan. The microfilariae are found in peripheral blood The number 3. A mosquito ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal The number 4. After ingestion, the microfilariae migrate from the mosquito's midgut through the hemocoel to the Malpighian tubules in the abdomen The number 5. There the microfilariae develop into first-stage larvae The number 6 and subsequently into third-stage infective larvae The number 7. The third-stage infective larvae migrate to the mosquito's proboscis The number 8 and can infect another definitive host when it takes a blood meal The number 1. In humans The number 9, D. tenuis may wander in the subcutaneous tissues for months, but finally is encapsulated in a granulomatous nodule, but may also be found around the eye or on the conjunctiva. Because of this, the infection in humans was first known as Dirofilaria conjunctivae.

During a blood meal, an infected black fly (genus Simulium) introduces third-stage filarial larvae of Dirofilaria ursi onto the skin of the ursine definitive host (although humans may also serve as hosts), where they penetrate into the bite wound The number 1. In subcutaneous tissues, the larvae develop into adults, which commonly reside in subcutaneous connective tissues The number 2. Adult females are usually 115-225 mm long by 460-700 µm wide; males are usually 50-90 mm long by 330-480 µm wide. Adults can live for 5 - 10 years. In the subcutaneous tissues, the female worms are capable of producing microfilariae over their lifespan. The microfilariae are found in peripheral blood The number 3. A black fly ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal The number 4. After ingestion, the microfilariae migrate from the black fly's midgut through the hemocoel to the Malpighian tubules in the abdomen The number 5. There the microfilariae develop into first-stage larvae The number 6 and subsequently into third-stage infective larvae The number 7. The third-stage infective larvae migrate to the black fly's proboscis The number 8 and can infect another definitive host when the fly takes a blood meal The number 1. Humans are not common hosts, but may become so after being fed upon by infected black flies The number 9.

Geographic Distribution

Dirofilaria immitis is cosmopolitan in dogs. Dirofilaria repens infects dogs and cats in the Old World, while D. tenuis infects raccoons in North America. Dirofilaria ursi and D. subdermata are also North American, infecting bears and porcupines, respectively. Dirofilaria striata is a parasite of wild felids in North, Central, and South America.

Clinical Presentation

Dirofilaria immitis causes pulmonary disease in humans. The parasite cannot develop in the human host and larvae that migrate to the heart usually die. Dead worms produce infarcts when they lodge in pulmonary vessels; these infarcts are usually referred to as "coin lesions". Following embolization, patients may present with chest pain, cough, fever, chill, malaise, and hemoptysis. There is often a mild eosinophilia. Other species of Dirofilaria usually manifest as subcutaneous nodules. These nodules are usually, tender, painful, and may be migratory. Adults of D. repens and D. tenuis are often found in the subconjunctiva.

DPDx is an education resource designed for health professionals and laboratory scientists. For an overview including prevention and control visit www.cdc.gov/parasites/.

  • Page last reviewed: May 3, 2016
  • Page last updated: May 3, 2016
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