The Onchocercidae are a family of

nematode The nematodes ( or ; ; ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda. Species in the phylum inhabit a broad range of environments. Most species are free-living, feeding on microorganisms, but many are parasitic. Parasitic worms (h ...

s in the superfamily

Filarioidea The Filarioidea are a Taxonomic rank, superfamily of highly Generalist and specialist species, specialised Parasitism, parasitic nematodes. Species within this superfamily are known as filarial worms or filariae (singular filaria). Infections wit ...

. This family includes some of the most devastating human parasitic diseases, such as

lymphatic filariasis Lymphatic filariasis is a human disease caused by parasitic worms known as filarial worms. Usually acquired in childhood, it is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide, impacting over a hundred million people and manifesting itself in ...

onchocerciasis Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm ''Onchocerca volvulus''. Symptoms include severe itching, bumps under the skin, and blindness. It is the second-most common cause of blindne ...

loiasis ''Loa loa'' filariasis, (Loiasis) is a skin and eye disease caused by the nematode worm ''Loa loa''. Humans contract this disease through the bite of a deer fly (''Chrysops'' spp.) or mango fly, the Vector (epidemiology), vectors for ''Loa loa' ...

, and other filariases.

Representative genera and species

The taxonomy of nematodes in the order

Spirurida Spirurida falls under the phylum Nematoda class Chromadorea and order Rhabditida. They are characterized by their elongated, cylindrical bodies and unsegmented structure. Like all nematodes, they have neither a circulatory nor a respiratory sys ...

is still in a state of flux, and the family Onchocercidae contains around 70–80 genera. The following genera are included in the family Onchocercidae in the

Wikispecies Wikispecies is a wiki-based online project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aim is to create a comprehensive open content catalogue of all species; the project is directed at scientists, rather than at the general public. Jimmy Wales s ...

project and th
Entrez Taxonomy Browser
The latter is the taxonomic system used in the NCBI family of databases, including PubMed. *''

Acanthocheilonema ''Acanthocheilonema'' is a genus within the family Onchocercidae which comprises mainly tropical parasitic worms. Cobbold created the genus ''Acanthocheilonema'' with only one species, ''Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides'', which was collected f ...

'' **''

Acanthocheilonema viteae ''Acanthocheilonema'' is a genus within the family Onchocercidae which comprises mainly tropical parasitic worms. Cobbold created the genus ''Acanthocheilonema'' with only one species, ''Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides'', which was collected f ...

'' (parasite of gerbils in Eastern Europe, Iran, and North Africa) **''

Acanthocheilonema reconditum ''Acanthocheilonema'' is a genus within the family Onchocercidae which comprises mainly tropical parasitic worms. Cobbold created the genus ''Acanthocheilonema'' with only one species, ''Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides'', which was collected f ...

'' (parasite of dogs) **''

Acanthocheilonema spirocauda ''Acanthocheilonema'' is a genus within the family Onchocercidae which comprises mainly tropical parasitic worms. Cobbold created the genus ''Acanthocheilonema'' with only one species, ''Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides'', which was collected fr ...

'' (parasite of pinnipeds) *'' Brugia'' **''

Brugia malayi ''Brugia malayi'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm), one of the three causative agents of lymphatic filariasis in humans. Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis tropica, elephantiasis, is a condition characterized by ...

'' (one cause of filariasis in humans) **'' Brugia pahangi'' (parasite of domestic cats and wild animals) **''

Brugia timori ''Brugia timori'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm) which causes the disease "Timor filariasis", or "Timorian filariasis". While this disease was first described in 1965, the identity of ''Brugia timori'' as the causative agen ...

'' (cause of "timor filariasis" in humans) *'' Breinlia'' *''

Cercopithifilaria ''Cercopithifilaria'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Onchocercidae The Onchocercidae are a family of nematodes in the superfamily Filarioidea. This family includes some of the most devastating human parasitic diseases, such ...

'' **''

Cercopithifilaria johnstoni ''Cercopithifilaria'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Onchocercidae The Onchocercidae are a family of nematodes in the superfamily Filarioidea. This family includes some of the most devastating human parasitic diseases, such ...

'' (parasite of rodents and marsupials in Australia) *''

Chandlerella ''Chandlerella'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Onchocercidae. The species of this genus are found in Malesia and Northern America. Species: *'' Chandlerella bosei'' *'' Chandlerella hispanica'' *''Chandlerella quiscali ' ...

'' **''

Chandlerella quiscali ''Chandlerella quiscali'', also known as the Grackle nematode, is a species of filarial nematode The nematodes ( or ; ; ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda. Species in the phylum inhabit a broad range of environments. ...

'' (parasite of birds in North America) *'' Dipetalonema'' **'' Dipetalonema reconditum'' (parasite of dogs, and sometimes humans) **'' Dipetalonema repens'' (parasite of dogs, and sometimes humans) *''

Dirofilaria ''Dirofilaria'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm), in the family Onchocercidae. Some species cause dirofilariasis, a state of parasitic infection, in humans and other animals. There are about 27 species in the genus.Michalsk ...

'' **''

Dirofilaria immitis ''Dirofilaria immitis'', also known as heartworm or dog heartworm, is a Parasitism, parasitic Nematode, roundworm that is a type of Filarioidea, filarial worm, a small thread-like worm, and which causes dirofilariasis. It is spread from host (bi ...

'' (heartworm in dogs and cats, occasionally humans) **''

Dirofilaria repens ''Dirofilaria repens'' is a filarial nematode that affects dogs and other carnivores such as cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes, and sea lions, as well as muskrats. It is transmitted by mosquitoes. Although humans may become infected as aberrant hosts ...

'' (parasite of dogs, and sometimes humans) **''

Dirofilaria tenuis ''Dirofilaria tenuis'' is a species of nematode, a parasitic roundworm that infects the subcutaneous tissue of vertebrates. ''D. tenuis'' most commonly infects raccoons, but some human cases have been reported. They are vectored by mosquitoes an ...

'' (parasite of raccoons, and rarely humans) **'' Dirofilaria ursi'' (parasite of bears, and sometimes humans) *'' Elaeophora'' **'' Elaeophora abramovi'' (parasite of moose in Russia) **'' Elaeophora bohmi'' (parasite of horses in Austria and Iran) **'' Elaeophora elaphi'' (parasite of Red Deer in Spain) **'' Elaeophora poeli'' (parasite of various cattle in Africa and Asia) **'' Elaeophora sagitta'' (parasite of several mammal groups in Africa) **''

Elaeophora schneideri ''Elaeophora schneideri'' (arterial worm; carotid worm; cause of elaeophorosis, aka "filarial dermatitis" or "sorehead" in sheep; or "clear-eyed" blindness in elk) is a nematode which infests several mammalian hosts in North America. It is transm ...

'' (parasite of various ruminants in North America) *'' Foleyella'' **''

Foleyella furcata ''Foleyella'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Onchocercidae The Onchocercidae are a family of nematodes in the superfamily Filarioidea. This family includes some of the most devastating human parasitic diseases, such as lymph ...

'' (parasite of lizards) *'' Litomosa'' **'' Litomosa westi'' (parasite of bats) *'' Litomosoides'' **'' Litomosoides brasiliensis'' (parasite of bats) **'' Litomosoides scotti'' (parasite of the

marsh rice rat The marsh rice rat (''Oryzomys palustris'') is a semiaquatic North American rodent in the family Cricetidae. It usually occurs in wetland habitats, such as swamps and salt marshes. It is found mostly in the eastern and southern United States, f ...

) **'' Litomosoides sigmodontis'' (parasite of rodents) **'' Litomosoides wilsoni'' (parasite of opossums) *''

Loa , also called loa, are spirits in the African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion of Haitian Vodou and Dominican Vudú. They have also been incorporated into some revivalist forms of Louisiana Voodoo. Many of the lwa derive their iden ...

'' (see also Loa loa filariasis) **''

Loa loa ''Loa loa'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm) that causes Loa loa filariasis, ''Loa loa'' filariasis. ''Loa loa'' actually means "worm worm", but is commonly known as the "eye worm", as it localizes to the conjunctiva of the e ...

'' *''

Mansonella ''Mansonella'' is a genus of parasitic nematodes. It includes three species that are responsible for the disease mansonelliasis: ''Mansonella ozzardi'', ''M. perstans'', and ''M. streptocerca''. A potential fourth species has been identified in ...

'' (see also

mansonelliasis Mansonelliasis is the condition of infection by the nematode ''Mansonella''. The disease exists in Africa and tropical Americas, spread by biting midges or blackflies. It is usually asymptomatic. Symptoms and signs Infections by ''Mansonella pe ...

) **''

Mansonella ozzardi ''Mansonella ozzardi'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm). This filarial nematode is one of two that causes serous cavity filariasis Filariasis is a filarial infection caused by parasitic nematodes (roundworms) spread by d ...

'' (parasite of man in Central and South America) **''

Mansonella perstans ''Mansonella perstans'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm), transmitted by tiny blood-sucking fly, flies called midges. ''Mansonella perstans'' is one of two filarial nematodes that causes serous cavity filariasis in humans. T ...

'' (parasite of humans and primates in Africa and South America) **''

Mansonella streptocerca ''Mansonella'' is a genus of parasitic nematodes. It includes three species that are responsible for the disease mansonelliasis: ''Mansonella ozzardi'', ''M. perstans'', and ''M. streptocerca''. A potential fourth species has been identified in ...

'' (parasite of humans in Africa) *'' Ochoterenella'' **'' Ochoterenella digiticauda'' (parasite of amphibians) *''

Onchocerca Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – '' Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to l ...

'' **''

Onchocerca gibsoni ''Onchocerca gibsoni'' is a species of nematodes belonging to the family Onchocercidae The Onchocercidae are a family of nematodes in the superfamily Filarioidea. This family includes some of the most devastating human parasitic diseases, su ...

'' (parasite of cattle in Asia and Australia) **''

Onchocerca gutturosa ''Onchocerca gutturosa'' is a species of nematodes belonging to the family Onchocercidae The Onchocercidae are a family of nematodes in the superfamily Filarioidea. This family includes some of the most devastating human parasitic diseases, ...

'' (parasite of cattle in Africa, Europe, and North America) **''

Onchocerca volvulus ''Onchocerca volvulus'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm) that causes onchocerciasis (river blindness), and is the second-leading cause of blindness due to infection worldwide after trachoma. It is one of the 20 neglected tro ...

'' (parasite of humans in Africa, six countries in Latin America, and Yemen), cause of

river blindness Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm ''Onchocerca volvulus''. Symptoms include severe itching, bumps under the skin, and blindness. It is the second-most common cause of blindne ...

) **''

Onchocerca lupi ''Onchocerca lupi'' is a nematode that causes ocular onchocerciasis, an eye disease, in canines and felines. The parasite was first described in 1967 in a wolf from Georgia. The other ''Onchocerca'' spp., '' O. volvulus'', is a human parasite tha ...

'' (parasite of canines in the United States, Greece, Portugal, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, and Canada), cause of Canine Ocular Onchocerciasis)Hassan HK, Bolcen S, Kubofcik J, Nutman TB, Eberhard ML, Middleton K, Wekesa, J.W., Ruedas, G., Nelson, K., Dubielzig, R., De Lombaert, M., Silverman, B., Schorling, J., Adler, P., Unnasch, T., and Beeler, S. (2015). Isolation of Onchocerca lupi in dogs and black flies, California, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2015 May 5. https://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2105.142011 *''

Piratuba Piratuba is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina in the South region of Brazil. It is known as a popular spa town because of its thermal springs. See also *List of municipalities in Santa Catarina This is a list of the municipalities ...

'' **'' Piratuba digiticauda'' (parasite of amphibians) *'' Sarconema'' **'' Sarconema eurycerca'' (cause of heartworm in swans) *'' Waltonella'' **'' Waltonella flexicauda'' (parasite of bullfrogs) *'' Wuchereria'' **''

Wuchereria bancrofti ''Wuchereria bancrofti'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm) that is the major cause of lymphatic filariasis. It is one of the three parasitic worms, together with ''Brugia malayi'' and '' B. timori'', that infect the lymphati ...

'' (parasite of humans, cause of "bancroftian filariasis") **'' Wuchereria kalimantani'' (parasite of monkeys in Indonesia)

References

{{Authority control Spirurida Parasitic nematodes of mammals Nematode families Taxa named by Alain Chabaud