Studies were performed in an endemic area of
Dirofilaria immitis in Spain to genetically characterize the potential mosquito vector species present by means of DNA sequencing and elucidate which of these species may be involved in the transmission. The rDNA ITS-2 sequences of two
Culex pipiens haplotypes, H1 and H2,
Aedes (
Aedimorphus)
vexans,
Fredwardsius vittatus,
Ochlerotatus (
Ochlerotatus)
caspius,
Anopheles (
Anopheles)
atroparvus, and
Anopheles (
Anopheles)
plumbeus were obtained.
F. vittatus and
An. plumbeus were detected for the first time. Results on abundance, presence, and activity suggest that the month of August is the period of higher transmission risk, with
C. pipiens,
Ae. vexans, and
An. atroparvus present simultaneously. Population studies indicate that
C. pipiens may be considered the most important potential vector, while
Ae. vexans,
An. atroparvus, and
O. caspius being involved in transmission only sporadically. The absence of larval dirofilarial infection agrees with the very low prevalences known in endemic areas.