Onchocerca flexuosa Genome sequencing and assembly. Onchocerca flexuosa

Onchocerca flexuosa is a filarial nematode that causes onchocerciasis in deer. O. flexuosa is related to Onchocerca volvulus, the agent of human African river blindness. O. flexuosa is, in contrast to O. volvulus, free of obligatory Wolbachia endosymbionts. Adult worms live in subcutaneous nodules in red deer. Infective larvae are transmitted by blackflies of the genus Simulium. This species of filarial parasites is widespread in Europe and parts of Asia. Adult worms for genome sequencing were isolated from naturally infected red deer (Cervus elaphus).