Can Mosquitoes Cause Cancer?
WouterSeveral types of mosquito-vectored parasites have been studied to determine their ability to cause cancer. These include Plasmodium spp. (Plasmodium malaria), Schistosoma haematobium (Bilharz), and Clonorchis sinensis (Cobbold). These organisms must pass through the midgut barrier to enter the mosquito’s body cavity. They then must replicate in the insect’s midgut. They can then be transmitted to the next host.
In addition, some infectious agents may be associated with the development of cancer. The WHO estimates that around 14 million new cancer cases occur each year. They will increase to 22 million by 2022.
Some of these infections can induce immunosuppression. This may allow persistent viral infections to reactivate. This could explain the association between malaria and cancer.
Researchers have also found that some mosquitoes may transmit viruses linked to cancer. For example, Zika virus and West Nile virus are known to spread through mosquito bites. However, more research is needed to determine if mosquitoes can transmit brain tumor viruses.
Currently, there are four major hypotheses about the relationship between mosquitoes and cancer. These hypotheses involve immunosuppression, carcinogenesis, oncogenesis, and the influence of mosquito bites on human metabolic pathways.
Some of the mosquitoes that may be involved in these diseases are Aedes aegypti (L.), Culicidae, and Diptera. These species of mosquitoes have hundreds of olfactory receptors, each able to detect a particular odor. When they attach to a smell molecule, an opening is formed on the cellular membrane. This allows the ions of the odour to enter the cell.
