The responses to various stimuli of microfilariae of Dirofilaria corynodes, of Dipetalonema marmosetae and of unidentified species of filariae in Saimiri sciureus and Cacajao monkeys

Abstract

Hawking F. 1973. The responses to various stimuli of microfilariae of Dirofilaria corynodes, of Dipetalonema marmosetae and of unidentified species of filariae in Saimiri sciureus and Cacajao monkeys. International Journal for Parasitology 3: 433–439. A study was made of the responses of the microfilariae of Dirofilaria corynodes, of Dipetalonema marmosetae and of three unknown filariae in Saimiri sciureus and of three other unknown ones in Cacajao rubicundus, to various stimuli applied to the host. These stimuli included exposure of the host to high oxygen or to hypoxia, intravenous injection of acetylcholine or serotonin, and alteration of body temperature. One of the unidentified microfilariae of S. sciureus was thermosensitive and its 24 h cycle is probably controlled by the temperature cycle of its host. The microfilaria of D. corynodes was liberated from the lungs by intravenous injection of acetylcholine and serotonin, thus resembling the microfilariae of D. immitis and D. repens.