Which is an example of a vector? & x20; - RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-21 July 2019 (Shift-2nd)

Explanation

A vector is a living organism that transmits an infectious pathogen from one host to another, often between animals and humans.
Ticks are a classic example of a biological vector. They are arthropods that acquire pathogens during a blood meal from an infected host and transmit them to a new host.
Common diseases transmitted by ticks include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Babesiosis.

Option A: Mice are primarily reservoirs for pathogens, not vectors. A reservoir is an organism where a pathogen lives and multiplies, but it doesn't typically transmit it directly to another species.
Option C: Similar to mice, squirrels are rodents that act as reservoirs for various pathogens. They harbor the disease, but an arthropod vector is usually required for transmission to humans.
Option D: Tapeworms are endoparasites; they are the infectious agent itself. They cause disease directly within a host but do not act as carriers to transmit other, different pathogens between hosts.

Visual 1: Diagram: The Chain of Infection. This visual helps place the 'vector' as a mode of transmission between the reservoir and the susceptible host.
Visual 2: Infographic: Common Arthropod Vectors. Shows images of ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, and flies, listing the major diseases each transmits.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Modes of Disease Transmission: Vectors as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the difference between vectors and reservoirs is critical for nurses, especially in public health, for implementing effective disease prevention and control strategies.
Patient education is a key nursing role. Nurses teach patients about preventing vector-borne diseases through measures like using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and performing tick checks after being outdoors.
What if? If the question asked for a 'reservoir' for Lyme disease, 'Mice' would be a correct answer, as white-footed mice are the primary reservoir for the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium in many regions.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing a key definition in epidemiology.
First, define the keyword 'vector' in your mind. A vector is a living carrier that transmits a disease-causing agent from one host to another.
Next, evaluate each option against this definition.
Consider 'Mice' and 'Squirrels'. They are animals, but in the chain of infection, they are more commonly known as 'reservoirs'—where the pathogen lives and multiplies.
Consider 'Tapeworms'. This is a parasite that is the disease agent itself, not a carrier of a different agent.
Consider 'Ticks'. Ticks are well-known for biting one animal (like a deer or mouse), picking up a pathogen (like Lyme disease bacteria), and then transmitting it to a human through a bite. This perfectly matches the definition of a vector.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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