Based on tetracycline treatment studies, this pattern seems to be similar for D. immitis, which has a much longer life cycle. population dynamics for Wolbachia are consistent with the two processes compromised most by "tetracycline" treatment (i.e., molts from L3 to L4 and L4 to juvenile molts; microfilarial production) and evasion of the mammalian immunity (i.e., during L3 to L4 molt; L4 to juvenile molt; adult worm survival) allowing for long-term survival of adult filariae. recent studies on D. immitis strongly suggested that relatively few, if any, Wolbachia are required for microfilariae to survive and develop into L3 in the arthropod host, but some Wolbachia must be present to be passed on to the next generation of the filarial parasite, since this endosymbiont is transmitted only vertically (i.e., from female to offspring) in filarial parasites