Mermithid parasitism of Simulium damnosum s.l. and the transmission of human onchocerciasis.
Dissection data from a Simulium damnosum s.l. population in northern Ghana, heavily parasitized by the mermithid Isomermis lairdi, are presented. A simple calculation gives reason to suppose that this parasitism may significantly reduce the transmission of onchocerciasis at certain seasons.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva; D008632:Mermithoidea; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000635:transmission*; D012621:Seasons; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000469:parasitology*