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Health

Because mosquitoes bite some people more than others?

02.02.2016

This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.

 

 

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Cases of zika and microcephaly in Brazil raised concerns with the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which it was feared because of dengue.

Since October, were reported 4,180 suspected cases of microcephaly in the country - 270 have been confirmed, 462 discarded and the others follow in research.

As there is no vaccine or treatment for zika, advice, especially for pregnant women, is taking steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

But why mosquitoes bite some people more than others? According to a study published last year in the journal PLOS ONE, this may be linked to genes that control body odor.

Scientists from Britain and the United States gathered 19 non-identical twins identical twins and 18 to test the attraction to mosquitoes.

They found that identical twins drew the same amount of bites, suggesting the influence of genetic factors in this process.

In a series of tests, each twin placed a hand on the end of a wind tunnel-shaped "Y". Then, air was pumped into the tunnel, bringing odor. Then swarms of mosquitoes were released, moving away from or close to each hand.

In the case of identical twins - that share a large part of the genetic material - was a uniform distribution of mosquitoes. This suggests that insects had no preference for the smell of a hand or the other.

Moreover, results of tests not identical twins - dividing fewer genes - were more variable.

Researchers believe that the attractiveness to mosquitoes may be related to genes linked to body odor. The next step is to figure out which specific genes were involved.

New research is already being carried out.

"If we understand the genetic basis for variation between individuals, you can develop ways tailored to better control mosquitoes, and develop new ways to repel them," said James Logan, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, lead author study.

'Intriguing' - Commenting on the research, Professor David Weetman, the School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, said the result is "intriguing".

"It's the first time that a genetic basis has been demonstrated," he said. "But only mosquitos are not attracted by the smell - factors such as carbon dioxide also play a role. Larger studies will help assess the relative importance of these discoveries out of the lab, where other factors may be important. "

This article was originally published in April 2015 and updated with data on zika epidemic. (Source: Earth)

Source: Environment Brazil

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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.

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