A type of Zika-transmitting mosquito named Culex quinquefasciatus discovered by Brazilian scientists
Science and Technology
World
Brazilian researchers on 21 July 2016 announced that they have found another species of mosquito, which is able to transmit the Zika virus to humans.
The scientists found the presence of the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito infected by the Zika virus in three out of 80 groups of mosquitoes analysed up until now.
The 80 groups were from the metropolitan area of Recife, Brazil.
Until now, transmission of the virus was only known through the Aedes aegypti mosquitos, which are also responsible for the spread of dengue and chikungunya.
About Culex quinquefasciatus
• The Culex quinquefasciatus is known as domestic mosquito in Brazil.
• It is a medium-sized mosquito found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
• It is the vector of Wuchereria bancrofti, avian malaria and arboviruses.
• Its genome was sequenced in 2010, and was shown to have 18883 protein-coding genes.
