Periocular Dirofilariasis Mimicking Lacrimal Sac Mucocoele

Abstract

Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic infection caused by filarial nematodes belonging to the genus dirofilariae. Dirofilaria is commonly seen in dogs, cats and other carnivorous animals world wide. Mosquitoes of the genus Culex, Anopheles and Aedes are the vectors and the humans are either incidental hosts or dead-end hosts. It affects lungs, liver and other visceral organs. Ocular involvement is rarely been reported. We present a case of 51-year-old female from Kerala, the southern State of India presented with a mass mimicking lacrimal sac mucocoele whose biopsy is proved to be dirofilariasis.

• Dirofilariasis
• human
• mucocoele

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Dr. Narsing A. Rao, Director, A Ray Irvine Ophthalmic Pathology Department, Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, for confirmation of the histopathological diagnosis.