Fig. 4
From: Cercopithifilaria spp. of dogs: little known but prevalent filarioids beneath the skin
Biological life-cycle of Cercopithifilaria bainae. Microfilariae of the subcutaneous filarioid are distributed in the superficial dermal tissues of infested dogs. They are ingested by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks at any life stage of the vector. Within the tick gut the microfilaria undergo further development into L1s, L2s and L3s (i.e. infective stages). The nematode reaches the infective stage (L3) within the tick in about 30Â days after the blood meal of the tick. Finally, the L3s are transmitted to dogs by infected nymphs or adult ticks, and in the definitive host these larvae will undergo further development until they become adults, which are usually found beneath the subcutaneous tissues. L1, L2, L3, Larval stages 1, 2, 3, respectively