UK mosquito species may carry avian malaria, new study finds

A mosquito lands on a blackbird's wing. It pierces the skin, draws blood, and moves on. Somewhere in that moment, a parasite called Plasmodium slips into the bird's bloodstream. Researchers have long known this happens across the UK, but they weren’t sure which mosquitoes do the transmitting. They finally have answers to that puzzle.A two-year study from Keele University found how avian malaria moves through Britain's wild bird populations, and the real culprits behind it. The researchers found that multiple mosquito species in the UK have the potential to carry diseases such as avian malaria and pose a threat to wildlife. These findings were published in the journal Parasitology.Some species of mosquitoes pose a threat to wild birdsMosquitoes are the primary vectors for several fatal and debilitating diseases. They transmit viruses and parasites to humans and animals through their saliva when biting.