Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on Dirofilaria repens (dog heartworm) and its relevance to Turkey:
What is Dirofilaria repens?
* It’s a zoonotic parasite (meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans).
* Symptoms in humans include: migrating swelling, local redness, stinging/burning, itching, feeling of movement in the eyelid, and rarely seeing the threadlike structure moving in the eye conjunctiva.
* If swelling changes location or is around the eye and accompanied by blurred vision/discomfort, an ophthalmologist should be consulted immediately.
Risk in Turkey:
* Turkey is considered a geographically risky zone for Dirofilaria repens.
* Cases have been reported in dogs, notably in the humid regions of the Marmara, Aegean, and Black Sea areas.
* A few infected human cases have been reported in Turkey so far.
* The risk is increasing due to:
* Climate change: Leading to wider mosquito spread and longer periods of mosquito activity.
* Temperature increase: creating environments that facilitate the development of larvae.
* The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reported an increase in cases in recent years.
In essence, the article highlights a growing concern about Dirofilaria repens in Turkey due to changing environmental conditions.