A study of potential mosquito vectors of Dirofilaria immitis Leidy, on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands.

Abstract

Laboratory and field studies were conducted to determine the potential mosquito vectors of Dirofilaria immitis Leidy, on Okinawa. Eleven mosquito species were either infected within the laboratory or examined from field collections to establish microfilarial intake, and their ability to harbor developing and infective larvae. Seasonal abundance, over a 2-year period, was also recorded to define the availability of all potential vectors. Aedes togoi, Mansonia uniformis , and Culex bitaeniorhynchus proved highly susceptible to D. immitis infection. However, Culex quinquefasciatus and C. tritaeniorhynchus represent over 80% of all larval collections on Okinawa. Laboratory studies demonstrated that 4.8–11.2% of all the C. quinquefasciatus and C. tritaeniorhynchus examined harbored infective larvae of immitis .