Whilst Onchocerca volvulus, the human parasite that causes riverblindness, is commonly known, there is a large number of nun-human Onchocerca and other filarial species found in cattle, game animals and birds. Their infective larvae are encountered in blood-feeding vectors and must be distinguished from the of human filarial species. Furthermore, some infective larvae of non-human species may occasionally develop in the human host and cause ‘zoonotic filariasis/onchocerciasis’
In the following, Onchocerca species of cattle and other filarial species found in Cameroon, shall be presented:
Filarial species found in Zebu cattle in Cameroon:
…. under construction….
Onchocerca ochengi
Onchocerca dukei
Onchocerca gutturosa
Onchocerca armillata
Setaria spec.
Dipetalonema spec.
Filarial species found in game animals:
Onchocerca ramachandrini BAIN WAHL & RENZ 1993 (warthog) – Simulium damnosum s.l.
Onchocerca hamoni (reedbok) – vector ??
Onchocerca ochengi (substrain?) (hartebeest) – vector Simulium damnosum s.l.
Robertdollfusidae (new species) – only mff found in Simulium damnosum s.l. (Bain, O. & A. Renz, 1993)
Filarial species found in birds:
Microfilaria in the blood of Streptopelia senegalensis:
