Lipid profiling of the filarial nematodes Onchocerca volvulus, Onchocerca ochengi and Litomosoides sigmodontis reveals the accumulation of nematode-specific ether phospholipids in the host

•Onchocerciasis is an infectious disease caused by filarial nematodes.•Three different filarial nematodes infecting cattle, humans and jirds were studied.•Phospholipids in nematodes and hosts were determined by mass spectrometry.•Filaria-specific ether phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids accumulate in the host.•These ether PE lipids could serve as potential biomarkers for onchocerciasis.