Dirofilaria immitis and its potential mosquito vectors in central New York State.
Screening of 25,822 dog blood samples indicated approximately a 1% infection rate with Dirofilaria immitis. Dipetalonema reconditum microfilariae were found in approximately 2% of 1,876 feral dogs examined. Laboratory experimentation indicated that 6 of 10 local mosquito species examined allowed successful extrinsic incubation of D immitis. Indices of experimental infection indicated Aedes triseriatus and Anopheles quadrimaculatus were excellent hosts for D immitis, but other factors considered, Aedes vexans probably served as the primary vector of D immitis. Coquillettidia perturbans and Culex pipiens-restuans group were considered unsuitable hosts and thus unlikely vectors of canine heartworm. Natural filarial infections were found in An quadrimaculatus and Ae vexans.
D000330:Aedes / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology; D003465:Culex / Q000469:parasitology; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004153:Dipetalonema; D004154:Dipetalonema Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005370:Filarioidea; D007303:Insect Vectors; D009518:New York