Adult females of Diptalonema vitae were found in subcutancous tissue of one Rattus rattus frugivorus and Rattus norvigicus caught near Assiut city. Incidence of infection was low (0.45% and 1.6% respectively). Unsheathed microfilariae. were described from peripheral blood of naturally infected rodents. Trial to explore the life cycle of the parasite yielded filariform larvae in soft ticks (Argas persicus persicus), 10-12 days after feeding on heavily infected rats. Trials to complete the life cycle in laboratory rats failed.