Elaeophora schneideri


Elaeophora scheideri
Phylum [[{Category:Nematodes|Nematoda]]
Class Secernentea
Sub-class Spiruria
Order Spirurida
Super-family Filarioidea
Family Onchocercidae
Genus Elaeophora
Species Elaeophora scheideri
Also known as: Filarial dermatosis

Hosts

Intermediate hosts: Tabanid flies.

Definitive hosts: Sheep, goats and deer.

Identification

E. scheideri is of the family Onchocercidae, and the adults are long, slender worms. The females are larger than the males, measuring around 12cm in length.

Life Cycle

Microfilariae are found on the surface of the definitive host. When the horse-fly feeds, it is infected with the larvae. The larvae then develop into L3 within the fly.

The fly moves onto another host, and feeds. The larvae then enter the hosts blood stream, and are circulated throughout the body. The adults can live within the host for up to 4 years.

The prepatent period of E. scheideri is 4-5 months.