The vector for transmission of malaria is?

Appeared in: CGHS SSC - 2018

Explanation

The female Anopheles mosquito is the biological vector responsible for transmitting malaria to humans.
It transmits the Plasmodium parasite (e.g., P. falciparum, P. vivax) through its saliva when it takes a blood meal.
Anopheles mosquitoes are typically night-biting, with peak activity from dusk to dawn, which is why insecticide-treated bed nets are a key preventive measure.

Option A: The Culiseta genus of mosquitoes is not a primary vector for major human diseases like malaria.
Option B: The Culex mosquito is a vector for several diseases, but not malaria.
Option D: The Aedes mosquito transmits several significant viral diseases, but not the parasite that causes malaria.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vectors of communicable diseases, specifically malaria as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowing the specific vector for a disease is critical for public health officials to implement targeted control measures, such as insecticide-treated nets for night-biting Anopheles.
Nurses educate patients on preventive measures tailored to the vector's habits, like using repellents and removing stagnant water, especially during peak biting times.
What if? If a patient presents with high fever, rash, and severe joint pain after being bitten by mosquitoes during the day, a nurse's suspicion should shift towards Dengue or Chikungunya (from Aedes) rather than malaria, prompting a different diagnostic and management pathway.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'vector', 'transmission', and 'malaria'.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about communicable diseases and their modes of transmission.
Systematically evaluate each option. Recall or deduce the primary disease associated with each mosquito genus.
Match 'malaria' with its known vector, the Anopheles mosquito.
Eliminate the other options by confirming they are vectors for different diseases (e.g., Aedes for Dengue, Culex for Filariasis).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 87-89

Practise the full CGHS SSC - 2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.