Setaria

  

Contents

  

Rev 07/21/2024

  Classification Hosts
Morphology and Anatomy Life Cycle
Return to Setaria Menu Economic Importance Damage
Distribution Management
Return to Onchocercidae Menu Feeding  References
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Classification:

Chromadorea
 Chromadoria

           Rhabditida 

                       Spirurina
                          Filarioidea
                   Onchocercidae
 
  •             Setaria Viborg, 1795

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    Morphology and Anatomy:

    Nomenclatural note:  The name Setaria is also applied to an important genus of foxtail grasses.

    The genus Setaria included 43 species as of 2009 (Laaksonen et al., 2009). Nematodes of the peritonelal cavity of their hosts.

    General characteristics of the genus:

    Female:

    • Generally longer than males.
    • Viviparous, hatched microfilariae (larvae) released through muscular ovijector and vulval opening in cervical region.
    		  

    Male:

    • Spicules differ in length, left 3 x longer than right.
    • Shorter than females,.

    Ref: Buckland and Walker, 1969; Olos et al., 2021
    Body size range for the species of this genus in the database - Click:
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    Distribution:

    Common parasites of ungulates, icluding wild ruminants.

    Reported in Northern Europe, Hungary, Finland.

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    Economic Importance:

    Setaria tundra has significant veterinary health importance in boreal regions of Europe as the causative agent of setariosis in cervids (reindeer, roe deer, moose and others: Rangifer tarandus, Capreolus capreolus, Alces alces) (Laaksonen et al., 2007). In Finland, there have been severe outbreaks of S. tundra among semi-domestic reindeer (Laaksonen et al., 2009)

    Most Setaria species can cause neurological disorders, usually in accidental hosts (e.g. lumbar paralysis, �Kumri� and cerebrospinal nematodis) which can be lethal to the host. These symptoms can take place also in definitive hosts like buffalo.

    Setaria. equina and S. labiatopapillosa can cause intestinal  inflammation and pain. Setaria digitata and S. cervii can also cause ocular filariosis or even blindness (Olos et al., 2021)

    The significance of seteriosis in humans as accidental hosts is not yet well defined.

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    Feeding:

     

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    Hosts:

    Causative agent of setariosis in reindeer, moose and other cervids  (Laaksonen et al., 2007). In Finland, there have been severe outbreaks of S. tundra among semi-domestic reindeer (Laaksonen et al., 2009)
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    Life Cycle:

    Transmitted by many species of mosquitoes.    

    Two hosts to complete the life cycle, an intermediate host (often an arthropd) and a primary host (usually a vertebrate). The juvenile stages occur in the intermediate host and the reproductive adult in the definitive (primary) host.

    For Ecophysiological Parameters for this genus, click 
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    Damage:

     

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    Management:

    Ivermectin is prescribed as an anthelminthic. Preventative use of the drug require that it be administered throughout the period of mosquite activity,

    Molecular detection methods are expanding the knowledgebase of the importance of many species of  mosquitoes as vectors of filerial nematodes (Kemenesi et al., 2015).

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    References:

    Bucklund, W.W. and Walker, M.L. 1969. Taxonomy, hosts and geographic distribution of the Setaria (NematodaL Filaruioidea) in the United States and Canada. J. Parasitol. 55:359-368.

    Kemenesi, G., Kurucz, K., Kepner, A., Dallos, B., Oldal, M., Herczeg, R., Vajdovicz, P., Binjai, K., Jakab, F. 2015. Circulation of Dirofilaria repens, Setaria tundra, and Onchocercidae species in Hungary during the period 2011-2013. Veterinary Parasitology 214: 104-113.

    Laaksonen, S., Kuusela, J., Nikander, S., Nylund, M., Oksanen, A., 2007. Outbreak of parasitic peritonitis in reindeer in Finland. Vet. Rec. 160: 835-841.

    Laaksonen, S., Solismaa, M., Kortet, R., Kuusela, J., Oksanen, A., 2009. Vectors and transmission dynamics for Setaria tundra (Filarioidea; Onchocercidae), a parasite of reindeer in Finland. Parasit. Vectors 2: 3.

    Olos, G., Nowakowska, J., Welc-Faleciak, 2021. Setaria tundra, what do we know, what is still to be discovered?. Annals of Parasitology 67:1-10.

    Sundar, S.T.B., D'Souza, P.E. 2015. Morphological characterization of Setaria worms collected from cattle. J. Parasit. Dis. 39:572-576.

     

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    Copyright 1999 by Howard Ferris.
    Revised: July 21, 2024.