Mosquitoes, of the family Culicidae, are pests of man and animal worldwide and are well known to transmit infectious pathogens of overall importance. Female species sucking blood from mammals for egg production are used by the pathogens for transmission from one infected animal to another. Among the mosquito-borne diseases are

• protozoal infections, like malaria
• nematode infections, e.g. Wuchereria bancrofti (elephantiasis (lymphatic filariosis)), Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm disease) and Dirofilaria repens (subcutaneous dirofilariosis)
• virus infections (e.g. Flaviviridae, like dengue fever, West-Nile fever and yellow fever; Alphaviridae, like chikungunya fever; Bunyaviridae, like Rift-Valley fever)
• bacterial infections, like tularemia

For more information about the most relevant mosquito-borne diseases in dogs, see the CVBD overview and the following chapters:

• Heartworm Disease
• Subcutaneous Dirofilariosis

A further important mosquito-borne disease, the West-Nile fever will be discussed briefly.