A case of recurrent human Dirofilaria repens infection in Uzbekistan.

Dirofilaria repens is a zoonotic mosquito-borne filarioid that parasitizes in the subcutaneous tissues of carnivores, that has been incriminated in the great majority of human dirofilariasis cases reported throughout the Old World. From the Republic of Uzbekistan, recent data showed that this parasite is endemic in domestic and wild carnivores. In contrast, information regarding human infection is scarce and mostly outdated, with a single case report being published during the last decades. The present paper reports a case of recurrent autochthonous infection with D. repens in a patient living in the rural area of the Sirdaryo Region of Uzbekistan and having no international travel history. The first diagnosis was in 2019, when the patient presented with what was suspected to be a tumour of the left breast. Three years later, in 2022, she presented for a consultation after experiencing redness, occasional swelling and persistent itching in the umbilical region of the abdomen. The ultrasound indicated the presence of a living, motile nematode. Following anthelmintic therapy, the parasite was surgically removed and identified as a female D. repens. The present report highlights the possibility of human re-infection with D. repens and further underlines the necessity of raising public awareness and implementing of solid control strategies in carnivores.

[On the identification of the species Griphobilharzia amoena Platt, Blair, Purdie et Melville, 1991, a parasite of crocodiles in Australia].

The results of the study of typical specimens of the trematode G. amoena from blood vessels of the crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni in Australia are provided. The data obtained on the morphology of this parasite did not confirm the statement of Platt et al. (1991) that this species belongs to the family Schistosomatidae. Morphological data on G. amoena enable attributing it to the genus Vasotrema of the family Spirorchidae as a new species. In this connection, the monotypical genus Griphobilharzia (justified by Platt et al., 1991) becomes a synonym of the genus Vasotrema, while the subfamily Griphobilharziinae becomes a synonym of the subfamily Hapalotrematinae.

Morphology, biology and taxonomy of Dendritobilharzia loossi Skrjabin, 1924 (Trematoda: Bilharziellidae), a parasite of Pelecanus onocrotalus (Pelecanidae) and Anas plathyrinchos (Anatidae).

Life cycles of Dendritobilharzia loossi Skrjabin, 1924, a parasite of waterbirds, and its morphobiological traits are studied and described. Mollusks Anisus spirorbis, the infection rate of which in natural environments reaches 1.3-1.9%, were recorded as intermediate hosts under conditions of Uzbekistan. The development of this trematode in intermediate and definitive hosts lasts for 26 and 15 days, respectively. Diagnostic traits of the trematodes during all stages of their ontogeny are reviewed.