Development of Tetrapetalonema marmosetae to the infective stage in Culicoides hollensis and C. furens.
Development of the microfilaria of Tetrapetalonema marmosetae to the infective stage is described in 2 species of biting midges, Culicoides furens and C. hollensis. Development takes place in the thoracic muscles where the microfilaria requires 8 days to reach the third, or infective, stage. These observations suggest that species of Culicoides are the probable natural vectors of T. marmosetae in enzootic areas and that possibly a wide range of midges will serve as suitable vectors for the parasite in the laboratory. The elucidation of the life cycle, the first for a filaria from a neotropical primate, opens the way for the maintenance of this parasite in the laboratory and provides another useful tool for experimental study.
D000818:Animals; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004175:Diptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development