[2] These parasites have a wide range of mammalian species as hosts, including members of Carnivora, Macroscelidea, Rodentia, Pholidota, Edentata, and Marsupialia.

(2013), A. dracunculoides (Cobbold 1870), A. filaria (Kou, 1958), A. mansonbahri (Nelson, 1961), A. mephitis (Webster and Beauregard, 1964), A. odendhali (Perry, 1967), A. pachycephalum (Ortlepp, 1961), A. pricei (Vaz and Pereira, 1934), A. procyonis (Price, 1955), A. reconditum (Grassi, 1889), A. sabanicolae (Eberhard and Campo-Aasen, 1986), A. setariosa (Mönnig, 1926), A. spirocauda (Leidy, 1858), A. viteae (Krepkogorskaja, 1933), and A. weissi (Seurat, 1914) are the well characterized parasitic species found all around the world in variety of hosts.

[5] The researchers identified the DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene in the Japanese badgers.

Morphologically, filarioids analyzed were identified as thin, small and delicate and in females the length was longer (twice as in males).

[17] it is known to be endemic in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

In the carnivore species, the male and female parasite tend to be biased to exist mainly in the peritoneal cavity.

[25][26] Sexually mature female parasites of A. dracunculoides are viviparous, they produce L1-stages, known as microfilariae, which eventually appear in the peripheral blood.

Dirofilaria immitis, D. repens, Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides and A. reconditum are the common species that have been known to be found in canine filarial nematodes.

These nematodes present blood circulating microfilariae which are differentiated to the species level using the techniques like PCR and by acid phosphatase activity patterns.

[32] A. reconditum and A. dracunculoides live in the peritoneal cavity and adipose tissue of the host species and are less pathogenic,[33] however D. immitis and D. repens are considered to be the emerging agents of parasitic zoonoses and are continuously expanding their ranges in the European.

[36] A. odendhali was subsequently found in other marine species like Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) and northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus).

However, according to the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center (NWAFC) reports, some blood-sucking flies or insects that infest the wounds are potential intermediate hosts (vectors) in their life cycle.

[46][47] Although it is endemic to some areas mentioned earlier, but the parasite is widely distributed as it has been identified in other species and around different continents.

Recent studies of A. reconditum occurrence in the southern regions of Italy has shown prevalence of this parasite as high as 13.3% with an annual incidence rate of 5.9%, which was observed in naturally exposed dogs.

[54] Eventually Acanthocheilonema was raised to generic level and this species settled under this genus, and a researcher Anderson presented its current name.

[56] Researchers suggest that these parasites share strong evolutionary basis with its phocid hosts about some 45 million years ago[56] It is believed to be transmitted via the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus).

[61][page needed] A. viteae is also used as a model species in the research experiments in order to study human filarial infections.

An excretory product called ES-62 is secreted by A. viteae and is homologous to ones produced by nematodes that infect humans but not those of non-parasitic species.

ES-62 molecules tend to exhibit anti-inflammatory actions, using a phosphorylcholine-bearing moiety to affect the intracellular pathways that are associated with the antigen receptors and TLR-dependent cell responses.

[66] In nature, during the third larvae infected stage, A. viteae parasites are transferred to their mammalian hosts with the aid of vector Ornithodoros tartakovskyi.