Attraction of mosquitoes to domestic cats in a heartworm enzootic region

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of feline medicine and surgery 2007-08, Vol.9 (4), p.309-312
Main Authors: Gomes, Luciana A.M., Serrão, Maria Lucia, Duarte, Rosemere, Bendas, Alexandre, Labarthe, Norma
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brazil - epidemiology
Cat Diseases - epidemiology
Cat Diseases - etiology
Cat Diseases - transmission
Cats
Culicidae
Culicidae - classification
Culicidae - parasitology
Culicidae - physiology
Dirofilaria immitis
Dirofilaria immitis - isolation & purification
Dirofilariasis - epidemiology
Dirofilariasis - etiology
Dirofilariasis - transmission
disease vectors
Endemic Diseases
Feeding Behavior
Female
Insect Vectors
Male
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1098-612X
1532-2750
DOI:10.1016/j.jfms.2007.01.009