Characterization of Dirofilaria repens: A combined morphological and molecular analysis

Dirofilariosis is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease of domestic and wild carnivores caused by Dirofilaria repens, primarily affecting canids and occasionally infecting humans, leading to subcutaneous or conjunctival lesions. In this study, D. repens was identified from canine and human samples using an integrated approach involving light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histopathology, and molecular diagnostics. Gross and light microscopic examination of excised nematodes was followed by SEM, which revealed characteristic longitudinal cuticular ridges and circular striations, particularly in the mid-body region. Molecular confirmation was achieved by polymerase chain reaction amplification of a 484 bp fragment of the ITS-2 region using pan-filarial primers. This combined diagnostic approach enabled accurate identification of D. repens in both canine and human hosts.