Mosquito spit can increase dengue severity

Blood vessels weakened by saliva may accelerate spread of virus

mouse ears

RED SPREAD  A red marker molecule, about the size of the dengue virus, spread farther through a mouse ear when treated with an extract of mosquito saliva (left) than when not treated with the extract (right).

M.A. Schmid and D.R. Glasner

A mosquito’s spit can be worse than its bite alone.