Content
- All about the Aedes aegypti mosquito
- Behavior and characteristics of the Aedes aegypti
- Aedes aegypti life cycle
- Diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti
- Dengue
- Chikungunya
- Zika
- Yellow fever
- Fighting Aedes aegypti
Every year, in the summer, it's the same thing: the union of high temperatures with heavy rains it is a great ally for the propagation of an opportunistic mosquito and which, unfortunately, is well known to Brazilians: the Aedes aegypti.
Popularly called the dengue mosquito, the truth is that it is also a transmitter of other diseases and, therefore, it is the target of so many government campaigns and preventive actions to combat its reproduction. In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will detail the diseases transmitted by aedes aegypti, as well as we will present the characteristics and some interesting facts about this insect. Good reading!
All about the Aedes aegypti mosquito
Coming from the African continent, specifically from Egypt, hence its name, the mosquito aedes aegypti can be found all over the world, but mostly in tropical countries and subtropical regions.
With preferably daytime habits, also acts with less activity at night. It is an opportunistic mosquito that inhabits places frequented by humans, be it houses, apartments or commercial establishments, where it can feed and lay eggs easily in small amounts of water, such as those lying in buckets, bottles and tires.
At mosquitoes feed on blood human and, for that, they usually bite the feet, ankles and legs of the victims, because they fly low. As their saliva has an anesthetic substance, this makes us feel virtually no pain from the sting.
At rains and the high temperatures favor mosquito reproduction. In this article we will see in detail the lifecycle of Aedes aegypti but, first, check out some characteristics of this insect:
Behavior and characteristics of the Aedes aegypti
- Measures less than 1 centimeter
- It is black or brown and has white spots on the body and legs
- Its busiest time is in the morning and late afternoon
- The mosquito avoids the direct sun
- Does not usually emit hums that we can hear
- Your sting usually doesn't hurt and causes little or no itching.
- It feeds on plant sap and blood
- Only females bite as they need blood to produce eggs after fertilization
- The mosquito was already eradicated from Brazil, in 1958. Years later, it was reintroduced in the country
- the egg of Aedes aegypti is very small, smaller than a grain of sand
- Females can lay up to 500 eggs and bite 300 people in their lifetime
- The average lifespan is 30 days, reaching 45
- Women are more vulnerable to bites because of clothes that expose the body more, such as dresses
- the larvae of Aedes aegypti are light sensitive, so humid, dark and shady environments are preferred
You may also be interested in this other article by PeritoAnimal where we talk about the most poisonous insects in Brazil.
Aedes aegypti life cycle
the life cycle of aedes aegypti it varies a lot and depends on factors such as temperature, the amount of larvae in the same breeding site and, of course, the availability of food. O mosquito lives on average 30 days, being able to reach 45 days of life.
The female usually lays her eggs on the inner parts of objects, close to clean water surfaces, such as cans, tires, gutters and uncovered water tanks, but they can also be done in dishes under potted plants and in natural breeding sites such as holes in trees, bromeliads and bamboo.
At first the eggs are white and soon turn black and shiny. It should be noted that the eggs are not placed in water, but millimeters above its surface, mainly in containers. Then, when it rains and the water level in this place rises, it comes into contact with the eggs that end up hatching in a few minutes. Before reaching the form of a mosquito, the Aedes aegypti goes through four steps:
- Egg
- Larva
- Pupa
- adult form
According to Fiocruz Foundation, an institution of science and technology in health linked to the Ministry of Health, between the stages of egg to adult form, it is necessary to 7 to 10 days in environmental conditions favorable to the mosquito. That's why, to prevent against diseases transmitted by aedes aegypti, the elimination of breeding sites must be performed weekly, with the aim of interrupting the mosquito's life cycle.
Diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti
Among the diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti they are dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. If the female contracts, for example, the dengue virus (through bites to infected people), there is a great possibility that her larvae will be born with the virus, which increases the proliferation of diseases. And when a mosquito is infected, it it will always be a vector for virus transmission. That is why it is important to act in the fight against Aedes aegypti. We now present each of these diseases that we have mentioned:
Dengue
Dengue is the main and best known among the diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti. Among the characteristic symptoms of classic dengue are fever for two to seven days, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, photophobia, itchy skin, sore throat, headache and reddened spots.
In dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can lead to death, there is an increase in the size of the liver, hemorrhages especially in the gums and intestine, in addition to causing a drop in blood pressure. The incubation period is 5 to 6 days and dengue can be diagnosed with laboratory tests (NS1, IGG and IGM serology).
Chikungunya
Chikunguya, like dengue, also causes fevers, usually above 38.5 degrees, and causes headaches, pain in the muscles and lower back, conjunctivitis, vomiting and chills. Easily confused with dengue, what usually differentiates chikungunya is the severe pain in the joints, which can last for weeks or even months. The incubation period is 2 to 12 days.
Zika
Among the diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti, Zika causes the mildest symptoms. These include low-grade fever, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and joint pain and inflammation. Zika is related to cases of microcephaly in newborns and other neurological complications, so you need to pay attention to it despite the milder symptoms. Symptoms can last from 3 to 7 days and their incubation period is 3 to 12 days. There are no diagnostic laboratory tests for either Zika or chikungunya. Thus, it is done based on the observation of clinical symptoms and the patient's history, if he traveled to endemic areas or if he had contact with people who had symptoms.
Yellow fever
The main symptoms of yellow fever are fever, stomach pain, malaise, stomach pain and liver damage, which ends up turning the skin yellow. There are still asymptomatic cases of yellow fever. Treatment for this disease usually consists of rest, hydration and the use of medication to relieve the symptoms.
Fighting Aedes aegypti
According to the Ministry of Health, 754 people died from dengue in Brazil in 2019, and more than 1.5 million contracted the disease. O fighting the aedes aegypti it depends on the actions of all of us.
Here are some measures that can be taken, all indicated by the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS):
- Use screens on windows and doors when possible
- Cover the barrels and water tanks
- Always leave bottles upside down
- Leave drains clean
- Weekly clean or fill potted plant dishes with sand
- Remove water accumulated in the service area
- Keep trash cans tightly covered
- Pay attention to bromeliads, aloes and other plants that accumulate water
- Leave tarpaulins used to cover goals well stretched so they don't form puddles
- Report mosquito outbreaks to health authorities
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti, we recommend that you enter our section on Viral diseases.