No evidence of endemic infection with Dirofilaria immitis in dogs

Abstract

Extract

Dirofilaria immitis is periodically recorded in dogs imported from Australia into New Zealand. In this country, environmental conditions are marginal for the transmission of this species, but potential mosquito intermediate hosts are known to be present⁽¹⁾. Development in the intermediate host is temperature dependent, with most reports indicating that a mean temperature of at least 18 °C is required^(2)(3)(4). Therefore, the most likely locations in New Zealand for D. immitis to establish are the Auckland region and areas north of this.