Department of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Kaimosi Friends University (KAFU), Kenya.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 24(01), 2352-2356
Received on 14 September 2024; revised on 25 October 2024; accepted on 27 October 2024
Vector-borne pathogens are transmitted by bites of infected arthropod species. The pathogens require two different host species to complete their lifecycle, usually a vertebrate and an invertebrate host, of which the latter transmits the pathogen between vertebrate hosts. Blood-feeding mosquitoes are important vectors of several human pathogens, including arboviruses namely: chikungunya, dengue fever, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever and Zika transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes amongst others. Culex mosquitoes on the other hand transmit Saint Louis and Japanese encephalitis, lymphatic filariasis, West Nile fever and Rift Valley Fever virus while Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria. The contact rate between vectors and their vertebrate hosts affects the intensity of pathogen transmission, and hence disease epidemiology. The ability of vectors to locate their blood hosts therefore is crucial in disease maintenance and perseverance. Host odour is known to play an important role in mosquito host-seeking behaviour and hence influences the contact rate between vectors and hosts. This literature review focuses on interactions between malaria parasites, humans, mosquitoes and how skin bacterial volatiles mediate host-seeking behaviour of mosquitoes.
lasmodium; Host; Vectors; Anopheles; Mosquitoes; Volatile; Microbiota
Preview Article PDF
Annette Obukosia Busula. Malaria mosquitoes, Plasmodium parasites and skin microbiota, towards control of malaria: A review. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 24(1), 2352-2356. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.24.1.3245