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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A perspective on the impacts of microplastics on mosquito biology and their vectorial capacity
ClearFemale mosquito-a potential vector for transporting plastic residues to humans
Researchers found that mosquito larvae accumulate microplastics from sewage environments and retain them through metamorphosis into adult females, suggesting that mosquitoes could serve as vectors for transporting plastic residues to humans through biting.
Ontogenetic transfer of microplastics and nanoplastics in mosquitoes: a scoping review of environmental and health implications
This scoping review examines the role of mosquitoes as vectors for transferring microplastics and nanoplastics from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems through their life cycle. Researchers found evidence that mosquito larvae ingest micro- and nanoplastics in water, which are retained through metamorphosis and carried into terrestrial environments by adult mosquitoes. The study highlights an underappreciated pathway for microplastic dispersal and raises questions about potential implications for organisms that feed on mosquitoes.
Characterization of microplastics found in mosquito oviposition habitats
Researchers found microplastics in 36 potential mosquito breeding sites in Texas, with higher concentrations in artificial containers and tires than in natural water bodies. Fragments and fibers were the most common forms, and scanning electron microscopy revealed microbial biofilms forming on the plastic surfaces. This study raises a novel concern: microplastic pollution in standing water may interact with mosquito biology and breeding, potentially affecting disease transmission dynamics.
No Effect of Realistic Microplastic Exposure on Growth and Development of Wild-caught Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes
Researchers exposed wild-caught Culex mosquito larvae to polystyrene microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations. The study found no significant effects on body size, development time, or growth rate in either species tested, suggesting that microplastic levels typically found in nature may have minimal impact on these fitness-related traits in mosquitoes.
Interactions between microplastics and Culex sp. larvae in wastewater
Researchers studied the interaction between microplastics and mosquito larvae in Egyptian wastewater treatment plants, finding that the larvae actively ingest plastic particles. They documented seasonal variation in microplastic abundance at the treatment facilities and showed that contaminated larvae could transfer plastics to adult mosquitoes. The study highlights an overlooked pathway by which microplastics in wastewater can spread into terrestrial ecosystems through flying insects.
Ubiquitous microplastics detection in mosquitoes from urban and rural regions signals a widespread pollution threat – the unseen carriers of hazard
Researchers conducted the first study quantifying microplastic prevalence in field-collected mosquito larvae across multiple species in Shiraz, Iran, using stratified sampling across six urban and rural locations. MPs were detected in larvae from multiple species and locations, suggesting mosquitoes may serve as vectors for microplastic transfer through food webs.
Microplastic ingestion perturbs the microbiome of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti
Researchers exposed Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito larvae to polystyrene microplastics and found that ingestion altered adult emergence rates, caused gut tissue damage, and disrupted the gut microbiome, demonstrating that microplastic contamination can impair mosquito development.
Microplastics on the menu; exploring interactions between two mosquitoes species and microplastics
Researchers exposed larvae of two mosquito species with contrasting feeding ecologies (Anopheles gambiae and Aedes albopictus) to varying concentrations, sizes, and densities of polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics, finding that ingestion risk was primarily determined by particle size rather than larval ecology, and that microplastics affected survival only in An. gambiae adults at the highest concentration, with no physical or chemical alteration of microplastics detected post-digestion.
The effects of nano– and microplastic ingestion on the survivorship and reproduction of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse)
This study investigated whether ingesting micro- and nanoplastics affects the survival and reproduction of two disease-carrying mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Nanoplastics at the smallest tested size (0.03 µm) reduced pupal survival and egg production in Ae. aegypti, while larger microplastics had limited effects on survivorship. The results raise concerns that widespread microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in aquatic breeding habitats could affect mosquito population dynamics, with potential implications for vector-borne disease transmission.
Plastic pollution and infectious diseases
Researchers reviewed how plastic pollution contributes to the spread of infectious diseases. The study suggests that plastic debris holding water can encourage arthropod-borne diseases by providing habitats for disease vectors, and that microplastic and nanoplastic particles may also interact with pathogens in ways that affect disease transmission in both humans and livestock.
Microplastic pollution differentially affects development of disease-vectoring Aedes and Culex mosquitoes
Researchers tested how polyethylene microplastics affect the development and survival of two disease-carrying mosquito species, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus. They found that microplastic exposure had different effects on each species, with Culex showing increased development time while Aedes was relatively unaffected. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in aquatic habitats may alter mosquito population dynamics, with potential implications for disease transmission.
Effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on host–parasite interactions in aquatic environments
Researchers reviewed how microplastics and nanoplastics affect the interactions between parasites and their hosts in aquatic environments. Evidence indicates that plastic particles can influence infection rates, parasite transmission, and host immune responses, though the effects vary widely depending on the species and type of plastic involved.
Microplastics affect mosquito from aquatic to terrestrial lifestyles and are transferred to mammals through mosquito bites
In a striking finding, researchers showed that mosquitoes exposed to microplastics as larvae carried the particles throughout their entire life cycle, and when those adult mosquitoes bit mice, fluorescent microplastic signals were detected in the animals' blood and skin. The microplastics also reduced the effectiveness of insecticides against the mosquitoes and altered their gut bacteria. This study reveals a previously unknown pathway for microplastics to enter mammals, including potentially humans, through mosquito bites.
Ontogenetic Transfer of Microplastics in Bloodsucking Mosquitoes Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) Is a Potential Pathway for Particle Distribution in the Environment
Researchers demonstrated that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can transfer microplastics across life stages from larvae through pupae to flying adults, identifying bloodsucking mosquitoes as a potential pathway for distributing plastic particles through the environment.
Understanding the microplastic pollution impact on Chironomus sancticaroli larvae development and emergence
Researchers studied how PET microplastics affect the development and emergence of Chironomus midge larvae, an important freshwater insect. They found that microplastic exposure altered larval development and reduced successful adult emergence. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems could disrupt the life cycles of aquatic insects, which are vital to food webs and ecosystem health.
Review: Synergistic effects of environmental pollutants: Multiple stressors driving the transmission of vector-borne diseases and the vicious cycle
This review examines how multiple environmental pollutants, including microplastics, heavy metals, and pesticides, work together to increase the transmission risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Researchers found that microplastics can act as "Trojan horses" carrying other contaminants, amplifying ecological and health risks through combined exposure. The study proposes multi-level intervention strategies that integrate source control, process interruption, and ecological restoration.
Aquatic insects as mediator for microplastics pollution in a river ecosystem of Bangladesh
Researchers found that aquatic insects in a Malaysian river ecosystem ingest microplastics and can transport them across ecosystem boundaries as the insects emerge from water to land, functioning as biological vectors that move plastic contamination from aquatic to terrestrial food webs.
Microplastics as vectors of contaminants
This review highlights the emerging role of microplastics as carriers of biological and chemical contaminants in water environments. Researchers note that while microplastic pollution is increasingly well-documented, the interactions between contaminants adsorbed onto microplastic surfaces and aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. The study stresses the need for further investigation into how microplastics may facilitate the transport and bioavailability of pollutants.
Tracking micro- and nanoplastics in Aedes albopictus: From ingestion to metabolic disruption
Researchers tracked the fate of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus from larval ingestion through adult development. They found that ingested particles crossed the gut barrier, persisted in tissues, and were retained through metamorphosis, while causing reduced body weight and significant metabolic disruptions. The study suggests that plastic pollution may affect mosquito biology through endocrine disruption and altered energy metabolism pathways.
Can microplastics facilitate the emergence of infectious diseases?
Researchers propose that microplastic pollution may facilitate the emergence of infectious diseases through two mechanisms: by altering exposure to pathogens such as multi-drug resistant bacteria, and by modifying the dynamics of vector-borne diseases. They note that microplastics can impair immune function and disrupt commensal microorganisms, potentially increasing susceptibility to infection. The study argues that microplastics should be considered a ubiquitous environmental hazard with implications for infectious disease emergence.
Ontogenetic transfer of microplastics in natural populations of malaria mosquitoes in Western Siberia
Researchers studied how malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Western Siberia take up microplastics during their aquatic larval stage and carry them through metamorphosis into adulthood. Larvae accumulated millions of polystyrene particles within days, but the number dropped dramatically during each life stage transition, with only a few particles remaining in adult mosquitoes. The study confirms that flying insects can transfer waterborne microplastic pollution into terrestrial environments.
Environmental Impact of Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions
This review examines microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems, covering chemical, biological, and ecological processes beyond simple physical contamination and identifying priority areas for future research directions.
How microplastics influence the health and microbiota of aquatic invertebrates: A review
This review examines how microplastics affect the health and microbiota of aquatic invertebrates, an area that has received less attention than fish studies. Researchers summarize evidence showing that microplastics cause toxicity at biological and molecular levels, alter microbial communities associated with invertebrate hosts, and interact with climate change and other pollutants to produce combined effects. The study highlights significant knowledge gaps and proposes future research directions for understanding microplastic impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
Can microplastic contamination affect the wing morphology and wingbeat frequency of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes?
Researchers tested whether polyethylene microplastic exposure during larval development affects wing morphology and wingbeat frequency in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, a species relevant to disease transmission. They found that while larval survival was unaffected, female mosquitoes reared in microplastic-contaminated water had smaller wings, and male mosquitoes showed altered wingbeat frequency and wing morphology. The study suggests that microplastic pollution could have sex-specific effects on mosquito traits related to their capacity as disease vectors.