Onchocerca sweetae(Nematoda: Filarioidea): notes on the intermediate host

Abstract
Microfilariae ofOnchocerca sweetaeare broadly distributed in the superficial layers of the dermis of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). A total of 2855 insects representing 20 species were collected fromO. sweetae-infected bait buffaloes. Only one species,Culicoidessp. “M”, ingested microfilariae from buffalo skin. Larval development ofO. sweetaewas observed in the thorax of this species. A total of 829 insects, representing 7 species and including 749 parousCulicoidesspp. were collected from light and Manitoba traps. Developing filarioid larvae were observed only inCulicoidessp. “M”. It is concluded thatCulicoidessp. “M” is a natural intermediate host ofO. sweetaein the Northern Territory of Australia.