Molecular Detection of Dog Heart Worm in Mosquitoes in the San Joaquin Valley

Mosquitos and ticks are common vectors of microbial diseases. Of particular interest to pet owners is their ability to carry the common dog heartworm Dirofilaria immits, which can cause premature death in companion animals. Mosquitos are relatively understudied as a vector for D. immitis and existing detection systems for the presence of these parasites could be adapted to study them in mosquitos. We plan to use a variety of techniques to analzye mosquitoes and to identify D. immitis in mosquitoes from the San Joaquin Valley. This project can help us to understand how mosquitoes ticks transmit this parasite