| Disease Agents |
Thelazia
californiensis. (J345.3.w2)
- Thelaziidae - (Family): "Spiruroidea with no pseudolabia; mouth
capsule present. Hind end of male with many pre- and post-anal papillae.
Spicules unequal." They are parasites of the conjunctival sac,
lachrymal duct and digestive tract, of both birds and mammals. (B24)
- Intermediate hosts are flies (Muscidae - (Family)); for Thelazia californiensis,
it is thought that Fannia spp. are more important as intermediate
hosts than are Musca spp. Information from Thelazia rhodesii
indicates that first stage larvae from the host' eye secretions enter the
fly's gut and penetrate to the ovarian follicles, developing to second
stage larvae and then third stage larvae there. The infective third stage
larvae migrate to the fly's mouth parts, from which they are transferred
back to the definitive host. For that species, development in the fly took
15-30 days. (B24)
- Transmission is seasonal, depending on when the intermediate hosts are
active. (B24)
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