Filariasis or Loiasis is an eye infection caused by a parasite belonging to the species Loa loa, also known as "African eye worm" since it is present in the rainforests belt of western and central Africa. The purpose of this study is the description of a clinical case presented to our department. A 40-years-old Congolese woman, in the third month of pregnancy, complained a foreign body sensation in the right eye for which she was submitted to complete ophthalmologic examination. Slit-lamp examination revealed, in the infero-temporal subconjunctival space, the presence of a live whitish worm that moved slowly in the thickness of the tissues. Place a clinical suspicion of subconjunctival filariasis, were performed parasitological and serological analysis; laboratory test showed peripheral blood eosinophilia and the blood film examination was negative for the presence of circulating microfilariae. The worm was surgically removed under topical anesthesia and the histological examinations of the parasite confirmed that it was an adult male worm belonging to the species Loa loa. Due to the large increase of migratory flows to Europe, number of reports of loiasis is becoming more frequent; the knowledge of this emerging pathogens is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Subconjunctival Loiasis :case reports and review of cases described in Italy / O., Verallo; Fragiotta, Serena; C., Carnevale; V., De Rosa; Vingolo, Enzo Maria. - In: LA CLINICA TERAPEUTICA. - ISSN 0009-9074. - STAMPA. - 164:S(2013), pp. E127-E131. [10.7417/ct.2013.1544]

Subconjunctival Loiasis :case reports and review of cases described in Italy

FRAGIOTTA, SERENA;VINGOLO, Enzo Maria
2013

Abstract

Filariasis or Loiasis is an eye infection caused by a parasite belonging to the species Loa loa, also known as "African eye worm" since it is present in the rainforests belt of western and central Africa. The purpose of this study is the description of a clinical case presented to our department. A 40-years-old Congolese woman, in the third month of pregnancy, complained a foreign body sensation in the right eye for which she was submitted to complete ophthalmologic examination. Slit-lamp examination revealed, in the infero-temporal subconjunctival space, the presence of a live whitish worm that moved slowly in the thickness of the tissues. Place a clinical suspicion of subconjunctival filariasis, were performed parasitological and serological analysis; laboratory test showed peripheral blood eosinophilia and the blood film examination was negative for the presence of circulating microfilariae. The worm was surgically removed under topical anesthesia and the histological examinations of the parasite confirmed that it was an adult male worm belonging to the species Loa loa. Due to the large increase of migratory flows to Europe, number of reports of loiasis is becoming more frequent; the knowledge of this emerging pathogens is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning.
2013
conjunctival infection/parasitosis; filariosis/loiasis; loa loa
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Subconjunctival Loiasis :case reports and review of cases described in Italy / O., Verallo; Fragiotta, Serena; C., Carnevale; V., De Rosa; Vingolo, Enzo Maria. - In: LA CLINICA TERAPEUTICA. - ISSN 0009-9074. - STAMPA. - 164:S(2013), pp. E127-E131. [10.7417/ct.2013.1544]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/516703
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