Abstract Introduction: Dirofilariasis or dirofilariosis is a mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) borne metazoonotic disease, caused by different species of the nematod genus Dirofilaria (Spirurida: Onchocercidae). Its reservoirs are mostly canids and it is cosmopolitan. Human dirofilariasis is now classified as an emerging zoonosis. Objective: This article reviewed all previous records and investigations in Iran and the world in relation to dirofilariasis in order to provide a foundation for forthcoming studies. Materials and Methods: From the first report of dirofilariasis in Iran in 1969 up to 2005, all human and animal cases and important data such as: the pathogen and reservoir species, distribution, frequency, and human cases, as retrospective study, were investigated and analyzed. Also, the natural history of parasite, pathogenicity, the disease diagnosis, treatment, and control, and the last status of the disease in the world were briefly mentioned. Results: Two species of the genus Dirofilaria D. immitis (canine heartworm) and D. repens are found in Iran. By now, nine human cases have been formally reported including four subcutaneous and two ocular cases of D. repens, a rare case of D. immitis in testicular hydrocele, and two pulmonary cases (most probably D. immitis). As a whole, human and animal dirofilariasis has been recorded in eleven provinces of Iran. The species D. immitis has been reported in East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardebil, Tehran, Khorasan, Khuzistan, Fars, Golestan, Mazandaran, and Hormozgan Provinces and D. repens in Tehran, Khorasan, Guilan, and Mazandaran Provinces. Different investigators have reported D. immitis in dogs (with the frequency of 0.95 to 36.8%), jackals (7.5-57.1%), foxes (5.7-50%), wolves (20-50%), and cats (0.8%) and D. repens in dogs (1.4-60.8%) and jackals (10%) in the different areas of the country. Conclusion: Data on dirofilariasis in Iran are to some extent scattered as regard to distribution or other aspects of the disease. More studies need to be done on dirofilariasis in the country, especially in places where no investigation has been carried out. There is no information about the vectors of dirofilariasis in Iran.

Keywords: Dirofilaria, Dirofilariasis, Dirofilariosis, Nematoda

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