Biology, Surveillance and Control of Mosquito Vectors

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4.6

MOSQUITOS AS VECTOR OF DISEASES

The most important pest and vector species belong to the genera Anopheles, Culex,

Aedes, Mansonia, Psorophora, Haemagogus, Sabethes, Anopheles etc. species, as well as

transmitting malaria, are vectors of filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and

Brugia timori) and a few arboviruses. Certain Culex species transmit Wuchereria bancrofti

and a variety of arboviruses. Aedes species are important vectors of yellow fever, dengue

fever, encephalitis viruses, Zika and many other arboviruses, and in a few restricted areas

they are also vectors of Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi.

Species in the very closely related genus Aedes also transmit filariasis and encephali-

tis viruses. Mansonia species transmit Brugia malayi and sometimes Wuchereria bancrofti

and a few arboviruses (Reiter 2001, RKPBV 1997, CDCP 2005). Haemagogus and Sa-

bethes mosquitos are vectors of yellow fever and a few other arboviruses in Central and

South America, while the genus Psorophora contains some troublesome pest species, as

well as a few transmitting arboviruses. Many species, although not carriers of any disease,

can nevertheless be troublesome because of the serious biting nuisances they cause (Reiter

2001, RKPBV 1997, CDCP 2005).

4.7

VECTORIAL CAPACITY AND COMPETENCE OF MOSQUITOS

Mosquito species have a high vectorial capacity and competence in transporting and

pathogens’ transmission to humans and other animals. They are the most predominant

group of insects and arthropods that can serve as vector of many pathogen agents. Different

pathogens can live and reproduce inside the vital organs of mosquitos, as well as they can

be fed there. High vectorial capacity of a mosquito means the opportunity that they have to

carry, develop and serving like mechanical and infected transporter of different pathogens

like viruses, bacteria, parasites etc. The life cycle of a pathogen agent can occur in two

or more host and mosquitos are the principal reservoirs and hosts (Reiter 2001, RKPBV

1997, CDCP 2005).

4.8

PATHOGENS THAT CAN BE TRANSMITTED BY MOSQUITOS

There are a tremendous number of different infectious and non-infectious diseases that

can be transmitted by mosquitos. These diseases can be classified in viral infectious dis-

eases, parasites infectious diseases, bacterial infectious diseases and other infectious dis-

eases caused by other pathogens agent. These diseases, some of them, have a very high

mortality rate to humans.

4.8.1

Parasites

Parasites are worldwide, they can be carried by mosquitos, can be fed and reproduced

in the mosquito host vital organs, as well as they can be transmitted to other hosts causing

severe diseases. Human is involved as host in these cycles, too. From parasites groups

we can mention the group of filarial parasites, where the most predominant parasites

species present are Brugia malayi, Wurchereria bancrofti and Brugia pahangi (Reiter 2001,