ORGANISM 9: Dirofilaria conjunctivae
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
A group of non-patent Dirofilariae.
COMMON NAME: None.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide, endemic in the USA.
PATHOGENESIS: Tumors and abcesses in various anatomical sites not completely
understood.
HABITAT: Various anatomical sites.
VECTOR: Mosquitoes.
RESERVOIR HOST: Raccoons and dogs, which are the definitive hosts.
INFECTIVE FORM: Filariform larva.
MODE OF INFECTION: Inoculation.
PERIODICITY: None.
SPECIMEN OF CHOICE: Biopsies.
SPECIMEN PROCESSING: Giemsa's or Hematoxylin/Eosin stains.
Figure 4-38. Life cycle of Dirofilaria conjunctivae.
MICROFILARIA
The identification criteria of this group of organisms have not been established because
they vary within the species
MD0842
4-49