Vector of Kala Azar is:

Appeared in: BHU NO-2019

Explanation

Kala-azar, or Visceral Leishmaniasis, is caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani.
The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sandfly.
In India, the specific species responsible for transmission is Phlebotomus argentipes.
Sandflies are small, hairy insects that breed in damp, dark places and are most active at night.

Option B: Mosquitoes are vectors for many diseases like malaria, dengue, and filariasis, but they do not transmit the Leishmania parasite that causes Kala-azar.
Option C: The housefly is a mechanical vector, not a biological one for this disease. It spreads pathogens by contaminating food and surfaces, primarily causing enteric diseases.
Option D: The Tsetse fly is the vector for African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness), a different parasitic disease primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vector-borne diseases and their specific transmitting agents as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in identifying potential cases of Kala-azar by recognizing its classic symptoms: prolonged fever (more than 2 weeks), significant weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver (hepatosplenomegaly), and anemia.
Patient education is a key nursing intervention, focusing on personal protection measures like using insecticide-treated bed nets, wearing protective clothing, and applying insect repellent to prevent sandfly bites, especially in endemic areas.
Community health nurses are involved in vector control programs, which include indoor residual spraying (IRS) and environmental management to reduce sandfly breeding sites.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from community health nursing/preventive medicine.
First, identify the core components of the question: the disease (Kala Azar) and the term 'vector' (an organism that transmits a pathogen).
Recall the common vector-borne diseases and their specific vectors.
Systematically evaluate each option:
Sandfly: Is it linked to Kala Azar? Yes, it's the primary vector.
Mosquito: What does it transmit? Malaria, Dengue, etc. Not Kala Azar.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) pp. 92-94, 91-93

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 169-171

Practise the full BHU NO-2019

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