The susceptibility of the mosquitoes Aedes notoscriptus and Culex annulirostris to infection with dog heartworm Dirofilaria immitis and their vector efficiency

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Abstract
The mosquitoes Aedes notoscriptus (Skuse) and Culex annulirostris Skuse were fed on a dog infected with Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) and a blood parasite count of approximately 5000 microfilaria per ml. Cx annulirostris ingested almost 4 times as much blood and almost 4 times as many microfilariae as Ae.notoscriptus (mean 26.0 compared to 6.6). Attrition of the filarial numbers occurred primarily within the midgut during the first 24 h following ingestion and was greater in Cx annulirostris than Ae.notoscriptus. Aedes notoscriptus sustained development of almost 8 times as many third-stage infective larvae as Cx annulirostris (mean of 3.8 compared to 0.5), and thus had a vector efficiency index of 57.6 compared to 1.9 for Cx annulirostris. In a series of investigations Ae.notoscriptus has now been shown to be an important vector for dog heartworm in southern Australia and may be a significant factor in the apparent burgeoning of the disease.

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