NATURAL TRANSMISSION OF DIROFILARIA-IMMITIS BY AEDES-VEXANS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (8) , 1253-1255
Abstract
A. vexans mosquitoes were reared in the laboratory from field-collected 4th instar larvae. Mosquitoes were allowed to feed on dogs which were infected with D. immitis and then the mosquitoes were housed in an environmental chamber with an ambient air temperature of approximately 26.degree. C and a relative humidity of approximately 80%. Incandescent lighting was used to simulate daylight. On the 17th, 19th, 21st and 28th day after their infected blood meal, the mosquitoes were allowed to feed on 5 microfilaria-negative dogs which had been reared in mosquito-free environments. Blood from 4 of the 5 exposed dogs was positive for microfilariae of D. immitis in an average of 272 days after feeding. The local strain of A. vexans was established as a vector of canine heartworm disease in the Minneapolis-St. Paul [USA] metropolitan area.