Human antibody response to the Anopheles gambiae salivary protein gSG6 has recently emerged as a potentially useful tool for malaria epidemiological studies and for the evaluation of vector control interventions. However, the current understanding of the host immune response to mosquito salivary proteins and of the possible crosstalk with early response to Plasmodium parasites is still very … [Read more...]
Is malaria a blood borne pathogen?
Question: Is malaria a bloodborne pathogen? Answer: Yes. Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium (there are five species which infect humans, being Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi), introduced into the human blood stream through the bite of an infected anopheles mosquito. To learn more about how the malaria parasite … [Read more...]
What is the Malaria Parasite?
Question: What is the malaria parasite? Answer: Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium; there are five species which infect humans, being Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. All these species are introduced into the human blood stream through the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito. … [Read more...]
What is the cause of malaria?
QUESTION What is the cause of malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of female anopheles mosquitoes. Please read more information on our website: Malaria Symptoms and Causes. … [Read more...]
How Much Time Between Mosquito Bite and Malaria Symptoms?
QUESTION If a mosquito carrying malaria is biting you, do you get sick the next day? ANSWER No. There is a delay called the incubation period, which usually is between 7 to 30 days (depending on the malarial parasite the anopheles mosquito is carrying). The shorter periods are observed most frequently from P. falciparum and the longer ones with P. malariae. Antimalarial drugs taken … [Read more...]
Anopheles Mosquitoes and Malaria Transmission
QUESTION How are the Anopheles mosquitoes able to transmit human Malaria and others are not? What makes them different from the other genus of mosquito? ANSWER This is a great question and in fact scientists are not really sure of the answer. The ability of female Anopheles to transmit malaria is a quirk of evolutionary history. Other species of Plasmodium (the Latin genus name of the … [Read more...]
Bringing Malaria to the United States
QUESTION I was recently diagnosed with Malaria still waiting to find out what strand, but either got it in Uganda or Rwanda. I have recently came back to the states and have been bit by mosquito. I have already started to take some medication for it, but I am concerned about spreading the virus to others in the states including my family. Is it possible that if I still have the infection to … [Read more...]
Mosquito Life Cycle
QUESTION Please explain the life cycle of a mosquito. ANSWER Mosquitoes are insects which go through several life stages, starting out as eggs, then hatching into larvae before developing into adults. Mosquito eggs are laid in slow-moving or stagnant pools of freshwater, to provide suitable habitat for the larvae once they hatch. Different species of mosquito prefer different water … [Read more...]
Is Malaria Transmitted by Female Mosquitoes?
QUESTION Is malaria caused by only female mosquitoes? ANSWER Malaria is only transmitted by female mosquitoes, yes. This is because only female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles (the genus that transmits malaria in mammals, including humans) feed on blood, and the parasite that causes malaria (called Plasmodium) spends part of its life cycle in the blood. Therefore, when a female mosquito … [Read more...]
Malaria in Summer
QUESTION Does malaria only occur during summer season? ANSWER That depends on where you are. The transmission of malaria depends on the presence of the mosquitoes which are required to transmit the disease (they do this when they bite you). Many kinds of mosquito transmit malaria, though all are of the genus Anopheles. These different species have different climatic requirements, but … [Read more...]