The mosquito will then move toward the source of the carbon dioxide. You release carbon dioxide when you exhale, leaving a trail of carbon dioxide that a mosquito can follow.Īn increase in carbon dioxide in the air can alert a mosquito that a possible host is close by. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other individual factors that can attract mosquitoes. However, it’s likely that many other additional factors also play a role in a person’s attractiveness to mosquitoes. The available research indicates that mosquitoes may prefer individuals with blood type O. Clearly, other individual factors can influence who mosquitoes choose to bite. However, there hasn’t been any research done to support this idea yet.Īlso, remember that while the 2004 study found a preference for blood type O over type A, the same can’t be said for the other blood types. Since blood type antigens can be found in the saliva and tears of secretors, it may be possible that mosquitoes can sense these antigens as they approach a person. Meanwhile, A antigen was significantly more attractive than B antigen.
They did this by providing samples of different blood types in separate feeders. Recently, a 2019 study also assessed blood type preference in mosquitoes. When the researchers analyzed the results, they found that mosquitoes preferentially fed on people with blood type O. Below, we’ll take a deeper dive into the research on this topic.Īn older study from 1974 recruited 102 participants to look into various individual factors that could attract mosquitoes. Generally speaking, mosquitoes appear to be more attracted to people with blood type O than other blood types. So, what does all of this mean for how attractive you are to mosquitoes? Those with blood type O secrete H antigen, a precursor to A and B antigen. For example, someone with blood type A would be a type A secretor. Some people can also have these antigens in body fluids like saliva or tears. O: no A or B antigen on the surface of red blood cells.AB: both A and B antigen on the surface of red blood cells.B: only B antigen on the surface of red blood cells.A: only A antigen on the surface of red blood cells.You inherit your blood type from your parents. People with different blood types have different sets of specific proteins (antigens) on the surface of their red blood cells. Are people with one blood type more prone to mosquito bites than others?
0 kommentar(er)
