Heartworm Distribution Australia

[witheverythingiam]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone knows a place I can see a map with the distribution of where heartworm can be picked up in Australia?

Thanks!

-WithEverythingIAm

[InspectorRex]

Don't have a map but anywhere thare a Mozzies( as they are the host carriers) heartworm is possible.

[ellz]

Don't have a map but anywhere thare a Mozzies( as they are the host carriers) heartworm is possible.

Tasmania is one place it isn't as common to see heartworm infection unless the dog has come to the state already infected. And as a result, we don't routinely treat for it unless it is dogs which are travelling regularly to affected areas. Apparently the particular variety of mosquito that are carriers don't do well down here.

[luvsdogs]

I would think it would be more coastal.

[morgan]

Not just coastal - the first dog found to die of heartworm in NSW many years ago was west of Parkes - she was a BIS winning deerhound only a few days off having her first litter. Up until then it had been mainly confined to Qld.

Edited December 7, 2008 by morgan

[GeckoTree]

Everywhere man,

Culex annulirostris - Geographic Distribution

NSW (widespread coastal and inland), Vic (widespread but not common south of the Central Highlands), SA (widespread, particularly Murray valley), Tas (east coast but only one record), (also Qld, NT, WA).

Vector & Pest Status

This is the major summer pest of inland riverine areas of southeastern Australia, particularly in the Murray/Darling River basin; it is an efficient vector of a range of arboviruses in the laboratory and has been incriminated in field studies as a vector of many arboviruses (including Murray Valley encephalitis, Kunjin, Barmah Forest and Ross River virus) in the region; it is also able to carry dog heartworm and is probably a major vector of myxomatosis.

Aedes notoscriptus - Geographic Distribution

NSW, Vic, SA, Tas, (also Qld, NT and WA); domestic and also sylvan in forested areas with tree-holes and/or rockpools.

Vector & Pest Status

This species is arguably the major domestic pest species in southeastern Australia; it has been incriminated as an important vector of dog heartworm, has been shown to be able to carry Murray Valley encephalitis, and transmit Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses in laboratory studies. Any role as a vector of arboviruses remains unknown.

Aedes vigilax - Geographic Distribution

NSW (coastline from north to south, and far southwest in saline areas of Murray), Vic (northeast of coastal Gippsland and saline areas in lower Murray Valley), SA (Gulf coastal and saline river areas in Murray valley), (also Qld, NT, WA); essentially coastal and associated with estuaries and mangrove zones, but it disperses for many tens of kilometres from larval habitats.

Vector & Pest Status

This is the major coastal pest species for NSW and more northern areas, and also for parts of coastal SA, where it may succeed and replace Ae. camptorhynchus as summer progresses; because it can disperse and be windblown for many kilometres it can create nuisance problems over large and diverse areas. It has been shown to be able to transmit Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) and Ross River (and other) viruses in laboratory studies, but although it is unlikely to be of concern for MVE and Kunjin because of distribution, it is accepted as the major vector of Ross River and Barmah Forest (and others such as Gan Gan) virus in coastal areas of NSW because of repeated virus isolations from collections in north, central and south coast areas; it is also known to carry dog heartworm.

Culex quinquefasciatus - Geographic Distribution

NSW (widespread), Vic (less common south of central highlands), SA, (also Qld, NT, WA); typically closely associated with human habitation, particularly urban.

Vector & Pest Status

This is the major domestic pest in many urban areas, particularly as indicated by indoor biting (although the similar Cx. molestus must be considered in some southern areas); with respect to human disease it has been shown to be able to carry Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus in laboratory studies, MVE virus has been isolated from the species in northern WA, it has yielded an isolate of Ross River (RR) virus during an outbreak in New Caledonia, but from a number of laboratory studies in Australia it appears to be a poor and unlikely vector of MVE, Kunjin, RR and other arboviruses; it is a vector (not particularly efficient) of dog heartworm (and human filariasis in more northern tropical regions), an important vector of fowl pox, and possibly involved in myxomatosis transmission in some areas.

Anopheles annulipes - Geographic Distribution

NSW (throughout), Vic (throughout), SA (widespread), Tas (lowland areas), (also Qld, NT, WA).

Vector & Pest Status

The species is only rarely a pest even when relatively abundant as it does not preferentially attack humans; it is known to be a laboratory vector of malaria and almost certainly has been responsible for transmission of malaria in many areas of southern Australia, can carry human filaria and dog heartworm (but is not an efficient vector), has yielded isolates of Ross River virus from the Murray valley and other viruses of lesser importance from various areas, but overall is not thought to be an important vector of human disease.

http://medent.usyd.edu.au/fact/dog%20heartworm.htm

Edited December 7, 2008 by RebLT

[Sheridan]

I was once told that vets in the Geelong area don't routinely vaccinate for heartworm because it is very rare in the area.

[Cavandra]

Wherever there are mosquitos!

However, it isnt that easy to contract.

Monthly heartworm specific products actually last 6 weeks.

If your using Advantix flea/Tick application then you are also repelling mosquitos & dont need to use anything else.

[ellz]

OK, so from what was posted, I glean that my information was pretty much correct.

The varieties of mosquito more commonly known to carry heartworm are not present in Tasmania. The varieties which can or are able to carry heartworm are here but considering how few cases of heartworm have been recorded as having actually STARTED in Tasmania, I would think my vet was correct in saying it isn't a major problem here. I was told a couple of years ago that the few cases that have been reported are dogs which have been moved to Tasmania from the mainland within the six months prior to their diagnosis.

Culex annulirostris - Tas - East Coast - ABLE to carry dog heartworm

Aedes notoscriptus - Tas - it has been incriminated as an important vector of dog heartworm

Aedes vigilax - not in Tas - KNOWN to carry heartworm

Culex quinquefasciatus - not in Tas - vector of heartworm but not particularly efficient

Anopheles annulipes - Lowland Tas - CAN carry heartworm but not efficient vector