Subcutaneous filariasis in India--Possible indication of human Dirofilariasis.

Madam, I read with great interest the article by Naik et al1, concerning diagnosis of filariasis. The adult female patient was afebrile with no lymphadenopathy or organomegaly. The authors could not diagnose properly the species of the filarial worm. In recent years, numerous cases of human Dirofilariasis have been reported, indicating fast emergence of this zoonotic disease2. Of the eight human filarial nematodes, only two species Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi are found in India. These worms occupy the lymphatic system. Other species namely, Loa loa, Onchocerca volvulus and three species of Mansonella occupy the subcutaneous layer1; which are not found in India. The case report presented indicates possible diagnosis of human Dirofilariasis. This nematode infection has been reported from Maharashtra, where the present case is reported. It is important to diagnose such subcutaneous cases of human filarial nematodes properly, when elimination of lymphatic filariasis is underway in India.