Filarial infection in the himalayan flying squirrel

Abstract: Brugia -type microfilariae were noted in a Madras tree shrew, Anathana ellioti (Waterhouse) from Andhra Pradesh, India. This is a new host record, the first report from the genus Anathana and the second report from the tree shrews.

Abstract: F r o m 1966 to 1967 a large number of filariids were recovered from the subcutaneous tissue, body cavity and orbital cavity of H ima layan flying squirrels, Petaurista magnificus, inhabiting at an altitude of 7,000 feet (Dasgupta et al., 1967). On examination, the worms proved to belong to the genus Dipetalonema Diesing, 1861, Another filarial parasite, Pseudolitomosa mossasabi Yamaguti , 1941 has been recorded from a flying squirrel, Petaurista leucogenys nikkonis in Japan (Yamaguti , 1941). Of the eighteen hosts autopsied six were found to be positive for this filarial species.