Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!ncrcan!ziebmef!hjsdvm
From: hjsdvm@ziebmef.uucp (Howard J. Scrimgeour)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: What's the Why and How of Mosquito Bites?
Message-ID: <1989Aug17.185726.24073@ziebmef.uucp>
Date: 17 Aug 89 22:57:22 GMT
References: <5399@mtgzy.att.com>
Reply-To: hjsdvm@ziebmef.UUCP (Howard J. Scrimgeour)
Organization: Ziebmef Public Access Unix, Toronto, Ontario
Lines: 38

In article <5399@mtgzy.att.com> norm@mtgzy.att.com (n.e.andrews) writes:
>
>Why does a mosquito bite swell up and itch?  

It's an allergic reaction. The body reacts to the presence of foreign 
substances by releasing histamine, serotonin, and other active substances 
from basophils and mast cells. This causes leakage of fluid from 
capillaries, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and other signs
of inflammation. It's the same reaction as the "hives" you get with
some other allergies.

>What goes on under the skin?
>How does the mosquito benefit from it?  

The foreign substance in this case is an anticoagulant protein in the 
mosquito's saliva. The benefit to the mosquito (obviously) is that it 
keeps the blood from clotting in the mosquito's mouth parts and 
digestive tract.

>Can the mosquito's poison be used to human advantage?  

Not really. We have lots of good anticoagulants, and they don't produce 
allergic reactions.

>Any pointers to literature?  

Not that I know of.
>
>Thank you!

You're welcome.

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| Howard J. Scrimgeour, D.V.M.                                           |
| hjsdvm@ziebmef.uucp       CIS:75126,2744                               |
| uunet!{utgpu!moore,attcan!telly}!ziebmef!hjsdvm                        |
| "We also walk dogs..."                                                 |
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