Filariasis Caused by Pelecitus sp. Nematode | CDC EID

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Volume 17, Number 5–May 2011
Dispatch
Human Intraocular Filariasis Caused by Pelecitus sp. Nematode, Brazil
Odile Bain, Domenico Otranto, Daniel G. Diniz, Jeannie Nascimento dos Santos, Norimar Pinto de Oliveira, Izabela Negrão Frota de Almeida, Rafael Negrão Frota de Almeida, Luciana Negrão Frota de Almeida, Filipe Dantas-Torres, and Edmundo Frota de Almeida Sobrinho

Author affiliations: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (O. Bain); Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Italy (D. Otranto, F. Dantas-Torres); Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil (D.G. Diniz, J. Nascimento dos Santos, I.N. Frota de Almeida, R.N. Frota de Almeida, L.N. Frota de Almeida, E. Frota de Almeida Sobrinho); and Instituto de Medicina do Olho de Tucuruí, Tucuruí, Brazil (N. Pinto de Oliveira)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
A male nematode was extracted from iris fibers of a man from the Brazilian Amazon region. This nematode belonged to the genus Pelecitus but was distinct from the 16 known species in this genus. Similarities with Pelecitus spp. from neotropical birds suggested an avian origin for this species.

Filarial nematodes have been found in the eyes and periorbital region of humans worldwide (1–4). However, rarely have the worms been removed and morphologically described. The main human filarial parasites are Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, whose adults live in the lymphatic system, and Loa loa, which infects subcutaneous tissues. In addition, some filarioids have an animal origin, either from domestic mammals, such as for Dirofilaria spp., or from wild mammals, including Onchocerca, Molinema, and Loaina spp. (1,2,5).

Nematode identification at the species level might be supported by anamnestic information, such as host and geographic location. However, for a reliable, definitive, species identification, proper morphologic or molecular diagnosis is needed. Clinical reports may provide a useful database for better understanding of the zoonotic potential of little-known filarioids infecting wild animals. We report a case of human intraocular filariasis caused by a Pelecitus sp., briefly describe the main morphologic features for nematode identification, and suggest the origin of this zoonotic infection.


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Filariasis Caused by Pelecitus sp. Nematode | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Bain O, Otranto D, Diniz DG, Nascimento dos Santos J, Pinto de Oliveira N, Frota de Almeida IN, et al. Human intraocular filariasis caused by Pelecitus sp. nematode, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 May [date cited].

http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/5/867.htm


DOI: 10.3201/eid1705.101309


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Domenico Otranto, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Zootecnia, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Strada Provinciale per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy; email: d.otranto@veterinaria.uniba.it