Why does the mosquito spread malaria?

Answer 1

Mosquitoes do not get malaria because malaria is a disease caused in humans by a parasite carried by mosquitoes, Plasmodium spp. When mosquitoes feed off the blood of an infected human, they also absorb the Plasmodium spp parasite. However, the Plasmodium spp. itself is not what causes malaria, and therefore cannot get a mosquito sick. Only when it reacts with the blood in a humans body does it take effect and cause the disease malaria. Mosquitoes then simply act as neutral hosts for the parasite before they land and release the Plasmodium spp. into the next human.

Answer 2

Malarial parasites, the Plasmodium species, are intracellular parasites. They multiply and develop in the red blood corpuscles (RBC). Mosquitoes do not have RBCs. As such they don't get malaria whereas animals like monkeys, rodents, etc., do get malaria.

Answer 3

By feeding off of an infected Mammal (such as a human).

And the Human gets it by being bitten by an infected mosquito. So it is a cycle.

No idea where it began first.

Well, it is not all mosquitoes that get infected with it as female mosquitoes are the only ones that feed on the blood of humans. A female mosquito can get the parasite from feeding on the blood of a human, or any vertebrates for that matter, that are infected with the parasite. I do not think that the mosquito is initially contagious though. I read somewhere that because the blood is their food, it must be digested first and it can remain dormant for some time before it reaches the glands of the mosquito to become infectious through a bite.

Answer 4

Depending on where you are Yes Mosquitoes carry malaria and are responsible for the spread of a number of other illnesses as well.

Answer 5

Male mosquitoes don't spread malaria because only female mosquitoes bite

Answer 6

Once infected blood is consumed by a mosquito, the bacteria (Plasmodium) develop in the mosquito's salivary glands, and are transferred to other humans.