title: Attraction of mosquitoes to domestic cats in a heartworm enzootic region.
abstract: Heartworm disease is caused by a mosquito-borne parasite that can affect many different mammalian species and has worldwide distribution. The agent, Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy 1856), infect mainly dogs but feline infection have been frequently reported in the last decade. Feline heartworm infection is difficult to detect, therefore, low reported prevalence could reflect true low prevalence or poor diagnostic efficiency. As mosquitoes are known to be attracted differently by different mammalian species, mosquitoes were collected from both a cattery and a contiguous home located in a canine heartworm enzootic area in Niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For 14 months, mosquitoes were collected weekly for genus identification, speciation when possible, and for individual blood meal identification. Culex species mosquitoes were the most captured and those most frequently found with feline blood meal, followed by Aedes species that, although captured in lower numbers, also fed on feline blood. While Culex species mosquitoes have been reported as potential secondary heartworm vectors for dogs and primary vectors for cats, the present results suggest that Aedes species mosquitoes may also be involved in feline heartworm transmission in a larger proportion than previously thought.
authors: Vital Brazil Filho, 64, Santa Rosa, CEP:24230-340 Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Luciana A M
authors: LA
authors: Gomes
authors: Maria Lucia
authors: ML
authors: Serrão
authors: Rosemere
authors: R
authors: Duarte
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Bendas
authors: Norma
authors: N
authors: Labarthe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D002415:Cats; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004184:Dirofilariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008297:Male