Mosquito is a term applied to any fly of the family Culicidae. The female mosquito has needle-like mouth-parts and sucks blood before laying eggs. Males feed on plant juices. Some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria. Human odour in general is attractive to mosquitoes, also lactic acid in sweat and heat at close range. Peoples' varying reactions to mosquito bites depend on the general allergic reaction and not on the degree of the bite; the allergic reaction is caused by the saliva injected from the mosquito's salivary glands to prevent coagulation of the host's blood. Natural mosquito repellents include lavender oil, citronella (from lemongrass), thyme, and eucalyptus oils.
Mosquitoes are remarkable for their quick genetic development, new species develop in around 100 years, as was discovered when mosquitoes became trapped in the London Underground system when it was built, and in 1998 were discovered to have become distinct species developing to feed first on rats and then on humans rather than their usual sheep hosts. Research Mosquito
A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism - known as the host. The host derives no benefit from the parasite, and is often manipulated and harmed by the parasite. Many parasites use intermediary hosts as stages on their journey to animals further up the food chain, and in doing so will manipulate he behaviour of the host. For example, the malaria parasite utilises mosquitos in its journey to large mammals. Before it is ready to pass to the mammal, the parasite suppresses the feeding instinct of the hostmosquito, thereby reducing the chances of it being killed. However, once mature and ready to move on the parasite encourages the mosquito to feed more voraciously, inmproving the likelihood that the malaria parasite will be passed on. Some parasites cause their hosts to commit suicide by being eaten, or behave in a manner which makes them much more vulnerable to predators, so that the parasite can move up the food chain to a higher host. Research Parasite
Blackwater fever is a rare and serious complication of chronic malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum following quinine treatment and characterised by massive destruction of the red blood cells, producing dark red or blackish urine. The patient has fever, rigors, jaundice, vomitting, pain in the loins and thirst. Recovery may follow, or death may occur from exhaustion, high fever or suppression of urine. Research Blackwater Fever
Erythrocytes or red blood cells, carry 99% of the oxygen the body needs. Although plasma circulates throughout the body, it can only carry about one percent of the oxygen that the body needs. Red blood cells are the most abundant cells in the body, constituting about 45% of the blood. Their main function is to carry oxygen to tissue and remove carbon dioxide waste. Red blood cells are mainly made of water and hemoglobin, an iron- containing protein. Hemoglobin gives red blood cells their colour and is so highly concentrated in individual cells that it almost forms crystals. It is an important protein in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Red blood cells are manufactured in myeloid tissue, better known as red bonemarrow. It is found mainly in the sternum, ribs, and cranial bones, although a few other bones also contain small amounts of the tissue. Each cell is very small, about .008 centimeter in diameter and shaped like a round cushion, with a hollow on each side. The rate of red cellformation is regulated by a messenger hormone called erythropoietin which is
produced in the kidneys. This hormone signals the cell to begin growth. First, the cell splits in two. Each of the pair in turn divides until there are sixteen red blood cells. Inside each of the cells hemoglobin is being produced. This production continues until the concentration of the protein becomes 95% of the dry weight of the cell. As this saturation point nears, the cell expels its nucleus, taking on a biconcave shape and thus, increasing its oxygen- carrying potential. At this point, the cell is called a corpuscle. The production of a corpuscle takes six days to complete. Yet the cell will only live for 120 days. About two and a half million red blood cells are destroyed every second. They are broken down into their constituent parts, some of which can be used again to manufacture new red cells. Normal red bloodcell production depends upon the body having an adequate supply of iron and two main vitamins: B12 and folic acid. There are many diseases due to deficiencies in red cells, they are collectively known as anemia. Hemolytic anemia is caused by
excessive destruction of red blood cells. It is often caused by poisoning, or a disease such as malaria, or may be an inherited condition. Pernicious anemia, in which large numbers of abnormally large red cells are made, is due to lack of proper absorption of vitamin B12. It can now be easily controlled with regular injections of the vitamin. Research Erythrocytes
Malaria also known as paludism (ague or miasma) is an intermittent and remittent fever caused by the micro-organism Pasmodium and transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Research Malaria
Abbreviations
Research Haemosporidia
