Anopheles Gambiae – Which Mosquitoes Carry Malaria?
WouterDespite efforts to control malaria in many countries, the disease continues to spread in some areas. Malaria is caused by a parasite, Plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes. It can cause flu-like symptoms, including vomiting, chills, muscle aches, and fever. It can also lead to organ failure, such as kidney and liver failure.
Infected mosquitoes can also transmit the parasite to other animals and humans. In fact, Anopheles mosquitoes are very efficient at transmitting malaria.
However, malaria is also a highly contagious disease, and can lead to death. People who are exposed to a lot of mosquito bites are at highest risk of contracting malaria. Among the Anopheles species that carry malaria, Anopheles gambiae is the most dangerous. This mosquito is also the most efficient at transmitting the parasite.
While malaria has been eliminated in some regions, the eradication process has been limited to certain islands and tropical regions. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. Some factors, such as institutional control and susceptibility to control, have been considered.
The effectiveness of Anopheles as vectors of malaria depends on their physiological, behavioral, and ecological characteristics. These characteristics vary by orders of magnitude.
The malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquitoes are found in Southeast Asia, Central America, and Africa. There are four different kinds of malaria parasites that can infect humans. During infection, the parasites develop within the mosquito and travel to the red blood cells of the infected person. These parasites are then mixed with the mosquito’s saliva one week later. When this happens, the parasites enter the person’s blood and travel to the liver. In the liver, the parasites develop into mature stages. When they reactivate, they can cause an attack.
