Vectors are organisms or insects which transmit a pathogen, disease, or parasite from one organism to another. In cases of filarial nematodes, the life cycle includes blood-feeding arthropods (flies). These vectors (specific to certain filaria) may include:
- Mosquitoes (Wuchereria, Brugia)
- Biting midges (Mansonella)
- Black flies (M. ozzardi, Onchocerca)
- Deer flies (Loa loa)
Transmission occurs when the biting insect transmits a pathogen (in this case, filarial nematode) to a human. During the blood meal, the filarial larvae are deposited on the skin by the arthropod proboscis; the larvae then migrate into the bite wound. The life cycle of these filarial nematodes is discussed in greater detail on the next page.
5. CDC/Darsie. Image #16849. "This illustration depicts a dorsal view of a biting midge, Culicoides melleus. Biting midges are small, robust insects with piercing, sucking mouthparts, that belong to the family of flies, Ceratopogonidae." PHIL public domain. Created 1976. Accessed April 6, 2023. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=16849
