A. Haroon, R. Rajendran, T. Dilip Kumar
Dirofilariasis is a vector-borne parasitic infection, caused mainly by Dirofilaria nematodes, namely, Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens and D. immitis. So far the known vectors are mosquito species of the genera Anopheles, Aedes, Culex and Coquillettidia. In India, majority of human dirofilarial cases have been reported from Kerala followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra, although sporadic cases have also been reported from Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab and Assam. In Kerala, recently many cases were reported from Malappuram District. This called for immediate and effective measures to stall and control the disease, for which epidemiological surveillance, research and public intervention programmes were initiated involving medical entomologists, veterinary scientists, public health specialists and health workers. This communication is mainly intended to give brief information on human dirofilariasis as an emerging zoonotic disease in Kerala.
A. Haroon, R. Rajendran, T. Dilip Kumar, 2022. Increasing cases of Dirofilariasis in Kerala – An emerging public health concern. Journal of Medical Arthropodology & Public Health 2(1): 9-14.