Publications (4)2.31 Total impact
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Article: Human dirofilariosis in Poland: the first cases of autochthonous infections with [i]Dirofilaria repens[/i].
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ABSTRACT: Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens Railliet et Henry, 1911 (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) is a subcutaneous parasite of dogs and other carnivorous animals, with human acting as incidental hosts. D. repens occurs endemically in warm climates on various continents, in Europe mainly in Mediterranean countries. The aim of this study was to summarize information on human dirofilariosis in Poland, taking into consideration parasitological and epidemiological data. Between April 2009 - December 2011, in the parasitological laboratories of Medical University in Warsaw and the National Institute of Public Health/National Institute of Hygiene, fragments of affected human tissues and parasite specimens were examined microscopically. Molecular methods were used to confirm the results from eight microscopic investigations. A literature review to summarize all data on dirofilarial infections in humans in Poland was conducted. In these investigations, autochthonous dirofilariosis was found in humans for the first time in Poland. During the last 3 years, 12 new cases of human D. repens dirofilariosis were recognized. Since 2007, a total of 18 D. repens infection have been found in humans in Poland. Parasitic changes were located in various parts of the body, in the form of subcutaneous nodules containing single nematodes surrounded by granulation tissue (15 cases). In 3 cases, a subconjuctival localization was found. Seventeen of the 18 described cases were noted in central Poland where dirofilariosis occured in dogs. In this area, autochtonous infection was identified in 3 women who had never left Poland in their lives; the others were probably infected outside the country while staying in endemic regions. Data on human and canine infection collected from central Poland during the last 5 years indicates that Dirofilaria repens has been introduced into our country, and that the infection is successfully spreading, with the border of the endemic area currently on 52°N, 21°E. To control the epidemiological situation it is necessary to identify D. repens hosts within local mosquito populations, and to monitor dogs. Because of the increasing number of cases of human infections, whether introduced or local, physicians should take dirofilariosis into consideration in differential diagnosis of skin and eye diseases.Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine: AAEM 09/2012; 19(3):445-50. · 2.31 Impact Factor -
Article: [Procedures for species identification of the nematodes belonging to Dirofilaria genus present in the clinical material isolated from humans].
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ABSTRACT: Procedures for DNA extraction and amplification were modified to allow identification of Dirofilaria nematodes surgically removed from human tissues. Worm samples stored in: ethanol (24 weeks), formalin (46 weeks) or paraffin blocks (25weeks) were examined. Fragments of two ribosomal DNA regions (5.8S-ITS2-28S, 5SrRNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene were used as diagnostic markers. The highest PCR sensitivity was observed for DNA obtained from the worm preserved in ethanol, while the nucleic acid extracted form the parasite stored in formalin yielded the lowest PCR sensitivity. DNA extraction from the parasite preserved in formalin was more time consuming than DNA extraction from the remaining samples. Furthermore, the amplification of DNA isolated from the formaldehyde preserved worm allowed for identification of the parasite species only when the mitochondrial marker was used in Real Time PCR, and the amount of the obtained product was close to the detection limit. Species identification of the worms stored in the paraffin block and in ethanol was possible with both traditional and Real Time PCR. All analyzed worms were identified as D. repens which confirmed the species identification based on morphological features. The results show that molecular methods are relatively simple to use and suitable for identification ofDirofilaria sp. nematodes present in clinical material. Formalin is not suitable for storing material intended for molecular tests.Medycyna doświadczalna i mikrobiologia 01/2010; 62(2):181-8. -
Article: [Dirofilariasis--Dirofilaria repens--first time described in Polish patients].
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ABSTRACT: In this paper the first cases of human dirofilariasis in Poland are presented. The clinical manifestations were typical subcutaneous nodules with the adult worm (D. repens) in the center. Past medical history of the 5 patients revealed their trips to endemic countries, so the imported infection was considered. However 2 of these cases were difficult to interpret. It is unclear whether the infections should be considered endemic or imported, because of patients' short visits abroad which happened long time (10 years) ago.Przegla̧d epidemiologiczny 02/2008; 62(3):547-51. -
Article: [Toxocariasis in children--difficult clinical problem].
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ABSTRACT: Toxocariasis in humans is a zoonosis due to the migration of Toxocara canis or T. cati larvae in human body. This review provides basic information on pathology of infection and clinical signs and symptoms of toxocariasis in children. The cases diagnosed in the recent years in central Poland are presented. The disease was recognised accidentally based on the results of laboratory analysis performed for other reasons, when abnormalities suggesting an active helminthiasis were found (eosinophilia, elevated IgE level and/or anemia). The high rate of soil contamination in households of the patients demonstrated elevated risk of infection and reinfection in both, rural and urban areas. Presented data show the need for educational programs which should be implemented for prevention of Toxocara infection in children.Przegla̧d epidemiologiczny 02/2008; 62(2):407-13.
