Which Mosquitoes Carry Diseases?
WouterSeveral mosquitoes are known to carry disease-causing parasites. The main type of disease carried by these mosquitoes is malaria. Although malaria can be deadly, there are treatments available.
Another common mosquito-transmitted disease is West Nile Fever. This disease is also transmitted by Culex species. These are medium-sized mosquitoes that bite at dusk. They are found in tropical and temperate climates. Symptoms include fever and joint pain.
Another mosquito-transmitted disease is Chikungunya, which is a virus that causes a painful rash. It is similar to the dengue virus. However, a person who has a Chikungunya infection may not experience the same symptoms as someone who has the dengue virus. Usually, the symptoms of Chikungunya are a rash, joint pain, and fever.
Aedes mosquitoes are known to carry Zika, Rift Valley Disease, yellow fever, and chikungunya. These mosquitoes are found in tropical and subtropical regions. They are active at night and during the day. They prefer to feed on humans and other vertebrates.
There are thousands of mosquito species. Some prefer to live in natural vegetative habitats while others prefer urban areas. Some species are known to overwinter in protected areas.
Mosquitoes are attracted to warm-blooded hosts by body odors and carbon dioxide. In addition, some prefer certain animals. Most female mosquitoes are not aggressive but they will bite if a host is bitten. They will also pierce a host’s skin to collect blood. They then inject saliva into the skin to prevent blood clotting. The saliva contains anticoagulants and cytokines to help the host immune system fight off the infection.
