Natural infections of Simulium (Nevermannia) uchidai (Diptera : Simuliidae) with infective filarial larvae, probably from a bird, in Oita, Japan
2005 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 93-98
Details
2005 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 93-98
A total of 131 female adults of seven black-fly species were captured in nine collections inside a bear shed in Kuju, Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan, from May to August of 2000. Two bears in cages were used as attractants. Simulium (Nevermannia) uchidai (Takahasi) was the most abundant species followed by S. (Simulium) aokii (Takahasi), S. (S.) bidentatum (Shiraki) and S. (S.) nikkoense Shiraki. Natural infections with larvae of an unknown filaria species were found in five of 52 S. (N.) uchidai dissected. The number of larvae per infected fly ranged from 5 to 115. The infective larvae measured 490-590μm long by 16-19 μm wide which resembled those of Splendidofilaria, a genus parasitic in birds. This is the first report of a natural filarial infection in a species of the subgenus Simulium (Nevermannia).
