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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics affect mosquito from aquatic to terrestrial lifestyles and are transferred to mammals through mosquito bites
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.
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.
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.
Microplastic ingestion perturbs the microbiome of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes aegypti
Researchers fed mosquito larvae polystyrene microplastics and found the particles accumulated in their guts, caused physical damage, and disrupted both bacterial and fungal communities in their bodies. The microplastics persisted through the larval stage into adulthood and were shed in adult feces. While focused on mosquitoes, this study shows how microplastics can alter the microbiome of insects that interact closely with humans and spread disease.
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.
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.
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.
Examining effects of ontogenic microplastic transference on Culex mosquito mortality and adult weight
Culex mosquito larvae were exposed to polystyrene microplastics at different sizes (2 μm and 15 μm) and concentrations, with MP ingestion confirmed and ontogenic transference of particles from aquatic larvae to terrestrial adults demonstrated, though no significant effects on adult mortality or weight were found. The study provides the first evidence of microplastic transfer across the aquatic-to-terrestrial life stage boundary in a common insect vector.
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.
A perspective on the impacts of microplastics on mosquito biology and their vectorial capacity
This perspective paper explored how microplastic pollution in aquatic environments could affect mosquito biology and their ability to transmit diseases. Researchers suggest that microplastics in the water where mosquito larvae develop could influence their growth, survival, and potentially their capacity to carry pathogens, representing an understudied intersection between plastic pollution and public health.
From insects to mammals! Tissue accumulation and transgenerational transfer of micro/nano-plastics through the food chain
In a novel experiment, researchers fed microplastic-exposed mealworms to mice and tracked the particles as they moved up the food chain. The plastics accumulated in the mice's lungs, liver, brain, kidneys, and even embryos, providing clear evidence that microplastics transfer through the food chain from lower to higher organisms and can cross biological barriers to reach developing offspring.
Characterizing microplastic ingestion, transformation, and excretion in insects using fluorescent plastics
Using fluorescent microplastics as tracers, researchers showed that insects can ingest, transform through digestion, and excrete microplastic particles, demonstrating that insects are both exposed to and potential vectors for spreading microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems.
Effects of microplastics on the physiology of living organisms on the example of laboratory reared bloodsucking mosquitoes Aedes aegypti L.
Researchers studied the effects of three types of microplastics on mosquito larvae and found that even at low concentrations, the particles suppressed immune responses and reduced the activity of protective enzymes. While survival rates were unaffected, the microplastics disrupted key biological processes including defensive enzyme function and immune response. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could make disease-carrying mosquitoes more vulnerable to other stressors, with unpredictable ecological consequences.
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.
Accumulation of microplastics and anthropogenic fibers in natural populations of blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genus Aedes in the environs of Tomsk (Western Siberia, Russia)
Researchers monitored microplastic accumulation in blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genus Aedes across multiple habitats near Tomsk, Russia, over three years. They found microplastics present at all life stages, with quantities varying by habitat type and year. The study demonstrates that mosquitoes can serve as both bioaccumulators and vectors for microplastic transfer through food webs.
Insecticide tolerance of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae following larval exposure to microplastics and insecticide
Researchers exposed malaria-carrying mosquito larvae to microplastics over six generations and found that the mosquitoes developed increased tolerance to insecticides. Larvae raised in microplastic-contaminated water showed higher survival rates over successive generations, and adult mosquitoes from these populations were harder to knock down with standard insecticides. The study raises concerns that microplastic pollution could undermine mosquito control efforts and complicate the fight against malaria.
Transmission of nanoplastics from Culex quinquefasciatus to Pardosa pseudoannulata and its impact on predators
Researchers exposed Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae to 200 and 1000 nanoplastics per mL of polystyrene and then fed the matured mosquitoes to Pardosa pseudoannulata wolf spiders to trace nanoplastic transmission across the aquatic-terrestrial boundary. They found that ingestion of nanoplastic-exposed prey affected spider growth, intestinal tissue structure, gut flora composition, and enzymatic activity, potentially prolonging time to maturation and reducing predatory performance.
Polyethylene microplastics are ingested and induce biochemical changes in Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) freshwater insect larvae
Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae were exposed to polyethylene microplastics to evaluate toxicity and biochemical effects at early developmental stages. The larvae ingested the microplastics and showed altered biochemical markers, indicating that plastic particles can affect insect physiology during larval development.
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.
The Effect of Larval Exposure to Plastic Pollution on the Gut Microbiota of the Major Malaria Vector Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae)
Researchers exposed larvae of the malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles arabiensis to degraded plastic, plastic additives, and latex beads, then examined how these exposures changed the gut bacteria of adult mosquitoes. While overall bacterial diversity was minimally affected, each type of plastic stressor altered the specific composition of the gut microbial community. The findings are significant because gut bacteria influence mosquito immunity and insecticide resistance, meaning plastic pollution could indirectly affect malaria control efforts.
Can water mites’ parasitism influence the number of microplastics ingested by aquatic insects?
Researchers discovered for the first time that parasitic water mites, which infect aquatic insects, influence how many microplastic particles those insects ingest, with mite-infested insects ingesting more microplastics — a finding that suggests parasites may play an unexpected role in how microplastics move through freshwater food webs.
Stimulation of insect vectors of pathogens by sublethal environmental contaminants: A hidden threat to human and environmental health?
Researchers reviewed evidence showing that sublethal doses of environmental contaminants, including microplastics and pesticides, can stimulate rather than inhibit insect disease vectors such as mosquitoes and agricultural pests. The study suggests these hormetic responses could enhance pathogen transmission and disease spread, representing an underappreciated threat to public health and food security that warrants further investigation.