POTENTIAL VECTORS OF DIROFILARIA-IMMITIS (LEIDY, 1856) IN ITACOATIARA, OCEANIC REGION OF NITEROI MUNICIPALITY, STATE OF RIO-DE-JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Dirofilaria immitis is a widespread mosquito-borne parasite that cause s dirofilariasis, a commonly diagnosed disease of dogs that is rarely reported in cats and humans. A mosquito survey was conducted in Itacoa tiara in the State of Rio de Janeiro, from March 1995 to February 1996 , using canine, feline and human baits. A total of 3,667 mosquitoes we re dissected for D. immitis larvae, representing 19 species and 10 gen era. From those, Ae. scapularis, Ae taeniorhynchus, Cx, quinquefasciat us, Cx. declarator, Cx. saltanensis and Wy. bourrouli were found infec ted with D. immitis parasites, and among those, only the first three h arbored infective larvae. The majority of larvae were found in the Mal pighian tubules (889/936), and larval melanization was observed ir? th e two Aedes species. In descending order the best vectors were Ae. sca pularis, Ae. taeniorhynchus, and Cx, quinquefasciatus which alternate seasonally in importance . Cx. quinquefasciatus is suggested to be a v ector to cats. The potential transmission of D, immitis parasites by t hese three vectors to man is discussed.