Table 2.

Animal models to study filariasis.

Filarial disease model	Causative agent	Vector	Worm location	Disease symptoms	Ref.
Animal model
Onchocerciasis, LF	Litomosoides sigmodontis in cotton rats, mice and mongolian gerbils	Mites (Ornithonyssus bacoti)	Adults: Pleura and occasionally, peritoneum MF: Blood	Not applicable	(19, 20)
Onchocerciasis in general	Onchocerca ochengi in cattle	Blackflies (Simulium species)	Adults: Subcutaneous nodules (onchocercomata) MF: Skin and subcutaneous tissue	Not applicable	(21–24)
Onchocerciasis keratitis	Onchocerca volvulus antigen or MF, Wolbachia-containing extract injected into the eye of mice after immunization	Not applicable	Not applicable	Ocular lesions in the eye	(25, 26)
LF lymphedema	Brugia malayi in ferrets	Subcutaneous injection of L3 larvae	Adults: Lymphatics in lower extremities and, genitals MF: Blood and lymphatics	Lymphedema in food path	(27, 28)
LF/onchocerciasis cell migration	B. malayi or O. volvulus in mice	Peritoneal injection/transplantation of L3 larvae in diffusion chamber	Adults: Peritoneum MF: -	Not applicable	(29–31)
LF TPE	L. sigmodontis or B. malayi MF sensitization and challenge in mice	Not applicable	Adults: - MF: Blood, lung and bronchoalveolar fluid	Lung pathology	(32)