2006-06-26 06:14:18 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
No one has ever conclusively shown that any HIV infection was spread by mosquito bite.
It is believed that the virus is unable to survive in the mosquito as the insect is cold-blooded, and the environmental temperature within the insect would fluctuate too much for HIV to survive (which is one reason that HIV is a blood borne disease, instead of being able to be spread by sneezing/coughing and the like).
Also, the mosquito injects anti-coagulant saliva into a wound through a hollow stylet known as the hypopharynx, but blood is drawn into the mosquito via the labrum/epipharynx - a totally separate hollow tube. They do not inject blood back into their victim, making transfer by this method highly unlikely.
The only way that a mosquito could transfer infected blood from one victim to another would be if some blood were left on the maxillae or mandibles that they use to pierce their victim's skin, and they moved to another victim and transfered that blood before the virus expired. The amount of blood transferred in this fashion would be minute (perhaps a few cells at the most), and it would need to be done soon after the first feeding or the virus would die.
When you consider the number of mosquito bites per person in somewhere like sub-Saharan Africa, and the infection rates of people positive for HIV in that region, even something as unlikely as a mosquito transferred case of HIV cannot be completely and totally ruled out. It might have happened once or twice. There's no way to know for sure.
It is exceedingly unlikely though.
2006-06-26 07:06:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, because when a mosquito bites someone, it doesn't inject blood from its previous victim into a new victim. It injects saliva to lubricate the bite, but the virus cannot survive long enough in the mosquito to be transmitted through its saliva. Also, mosquitos generally digest each meal before moving on to a new victim.
2006-06-26 06:19:19 · answer #2 · answered by sous_lepontmirabeau 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No,
Risk for acquisition of HIV by
1) Blood Transfusion
2) Childbirth
3) Needle-sharing injection drug use
4) Receptive anal intercourse
5) Percutaneous needle stick
6) Receptive penile-vaginal intercourse
7) Insertive anal intercourse
8) Insertive penile-vaginal intercourse
9) Receptive oral intercourse
10) Insertive oral intercourse
2006-06-26 06:21:16 · answer #3 · answered by Handsome 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No..Don't confuse HIV with Malaria parasites.
2006-06-26 06:20:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not.
2006-06-26 06:16:54 · answer #5 · answered by evil_tiger_lily 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I've never heard of that.
2006-06-30 16:49:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no who the heck told u that
2006-07-03 06:17:53 · answer #7 · answered by Diva 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No
2006-07-04 19:15:13 · answer #8 · answered by sa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course......Not!
2006-07-05 07:52:28 · answer #9 · answered by YOUR MOTHER 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not yet.
2006-06-26 06:18:09 · answer #10 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋