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Volume 31, Number 9—September 2025

Research Letter

Characterization of Emerging Human Dirofilaria repens Infections, Estonia, 2023

Kalev Nõupuu, Maare Mõtsküla, Riina Pulges, Mikk Pauklin, and Urmas SaarmaComments to Author 
Author affiliation: Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia (K. Nõupuu, R. Pulges, M. Pauklin); Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu (M. Mõtsküla); University of Tartu, Tartu (U. Saarma).

Main Article

Figure 1

Autochthonous Dirofilaria repens infections in 2 women, Estonia, 2023. A–C) Case-patient 1, showing a painful subcutaneous lesion with edema on her right eyelid (A; black arrow). Two months later, the edema resolved, but a 1.5 cm subcutaneous nodule persisted (B; black arrow). Histopathologic examination of the removed nodule confirmed Dirofilaria spp. (C; larger black arrow); distinctive transverse striations on the cuticle with average distance of 12 µm between the peaks suggested D. repens (inset; small black arrow). Hematoxylin and eosin stain; original magnification ×100. The diameter of the parasite was 390 × 529 µm. D) Case-patient 2, showing a subcutaneous nodule under the right lower eyelid (black arrow).

Figure 1. Autochthonous Dirofilaria repens infections in 2 women, Estonia, 2023. A–C) Case-patient 1, showing a painful subcutaneous lesion with edema on her right eyelid (A; black arrow). Two months later, the edema resolved, but a 1.5 cm subcutaneous nodule persisted (B; black arrow). Histopathologic examination of the removed nodule confirmed Dirofilaria spp. (C; larger black arrow); distinctive transverse striations on the cuticle with average distance of 12 µm between the peaks suggested D. repens (inset; small black arrow). Hematoxylin and eosin stain; original magnification ×100. The diameter of the parasite was 390 × 529 µm. D) Case-patient 2, showing a subcutaneous nodule under the right lower eyelid (black arrow).

Main Article

Page created: July 09, 2025
Page updated: August 26, 2025
Page reviewed: August 26, 2025
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