Mosquitoes feed on blood that is a marker in forensic research. Culex pipens mosquitoes imbibed human
blood and cultured, after ethanol-killing or keeping them alive, for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h and followed by blood count. Red Blood Cells (RBCs) count in living mosquitoes sh
owed reduction at 24 h after blood feeding while in ethanol
-
killed females the reduction was in a time dependent manner. White
Blood Cells (WBCs) count showed a similar pattern in living mosquitoes however, in killed mosquitoes
the reduction was rapid betw
een 24
-
48 h with significant reduction at 48 h.
using
different blood groups
did not affect RBCs and WBCs degradation in living or dead mosquitoes. This indicated that the
approximate time after mosquito bite can be determined (without impact from the type
of blood group)
by the RBCs and WBCs count in living and dead mosquitoes, respectively.