Development of filarial parasites in mosquitos in north-east Tanzania.

Natural populations of 6 species of mosquito-Anopheles tenebrosus, Taeniorynchus (Mansonioides) africanus, Taeniorynchus (Mansonioides) uniformis, Anopheles coustani, Anopheles ziemanni, and Anopheles pharoensis-were examined for filarial parasites. Infective stages of Dirofilaria immitis were found in the first 3 of these species, which are therefore considered vectors. Laboratory studies to see whether or not any of the 6 could potentially transmit Wucheria bancrofti showed only A. tenebrosus to be capable of producing the infective stage.