Which of the following pairs of vector and disease is/are correctly ma

Which of the following pairs of vector and disease is/are correctly matched?

  • 1. Anopheles : Malaria
  • 2. Aedes aegypti : Chikungunya
  • 3. Tsetse fly : Filariasis
  • 4. Bed bugs : Sleeping sickness

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 3 only
1 and 2 only
1 and 4 only
2 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2016
The correct answer is B) 1 and 2 only.
Vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens from one host to another. Let’s evaluate each pair:
1. Anopheles : Malaria – Correct. Female Anopheles mosquitoes are the vectors for the malaria parasite (Plasmodium).
2. Aedes aegypti : Chikungunya – Correct. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are known vectors for Chikungunya virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, and Yellow Fever virus.
3. Tsetse fly : Filariasis – Incorrect. Tsetse flies are vectors for African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness). Filariasis (caused by parasitic worms) is typically transmitted by mosquitoes (Culex, Anopheles, or Aedes species) or black flies, depending on the type of filariasis.
4. Bed bugs : Sleeping sickness – Incorrect. Bed bugs feed on blood but are not primary vectors for major human diseases. Sleeping sickness is transmitted by the Tsetse fly.
Disease vectors play a crucial role in the spread of many infectious diseases. Vector control is an important strategy for preventing outbreaks and reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases worldwide. Examples include controlling mosquito populations to prevent malaria and dengue, or using insecticides to target tsetse flies.