MEDICAL AND VETERINARY SIGNIFICANCE OF BLOOD-SUCKING MOSQUITOES (REVIEW)

This article presents an analysis of studies on harmful effects of blood-sucking mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), which are one of the components of the gnat complex.Many individuals of this family are vectors of pathogens for a number of invasive and infectious diseases that are dangerous for animals and humans.The relevance of this study lies in the fact that today, climate warming and urbanization lead to expansion of the area of mosquitos, increase in their number, and as a result, the spread of diseases to new territories of Russia.Mosquito bites are accompanied by damage to the skin of a victim, a feeder, and introduction of toxic saliva which has a strong anticoagulant and hemolytic effect.Erythema, inflammation and itching are developed at the place of the insect bite. Multiple bites cause edema, and increased body temperature and local inflammation.It is difficult to estimate losses caused by mosquitoes to agriculture due to the factthat mosquitoes attack cattle together with other blood-sucking dipterans: horseflies, blackflies and sandflies. A massive attack of insects causes anxiety in cattle,disrupts normal grazing of livestock, and results in injuries caused by movements toprotect themselves from insects, which leads to disruption of normal grazing and a decrease in their productivity.