Which of the following arthropod species is primarily responsible for transmitting the yellow fever virus?

MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The yellow fever virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.
This mosquito species, sometimes called the 'tiger mosquito' for its striped appearance, is the first proven vector of a virus disease (yellow fever).
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is also the main vector for other significant viral diseases, including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, making its control a major public health priority.

Option A: The Anopheles mosquito is the primary vector for transmitting Plasmodium parasites, which cause malaria, not the yellow fever virus.
Option C: The Ixodes tick is a vector for bacterial infections like Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi) and other illnesses such as anaplasmosis and babesiosis. It does not transmit viral hemorrhagic fevers like yellow fever.
Option D: Black-legged tick is the common name for the Ixodes tick (specifically Ixodes scapularis). It is incorrect for the same reason as option C; it transmits tick-borne bacterial diseases, not yellow fever.

Visual 1: Infographic: A visual comparison of Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex mosquitoes, highlighting their distinct resting postures, body markings, and breeding habits to aid in identification.
Visual 2: Map: A world map illustrating the endemic regions for yellow fever, which closely overlap with the global distribution of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vector-borne disease transmission, specifically the primary vector for the yellow fever virus as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Assessing a patient's recent travel history is a critical nursing action when they present with fever, jaundice, and myalgia, as it helps in the differential diagnosis of vector-borne diseases like yellow fever.
Nurses play a key role in educating patients and communities about vector control methods, such as eliminating stagnant water sources where Aedes mosquitoes breed, and the importance of vaccination before traveling to endemic areas.
What if? If a patient develops fever and jaundice after returning from a trip to a yellow fever endemic area but did not receive the vaccine, the nurse must ensure the patient is kept in a mosquito-free environment (e.g., using mosquito nets) to prevent local transmission, as the patient is viremic during the early phase of the illness.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the specific arthropod vector of the 'yellow fever virus'.
This is a factual recall question from community health nursing or microbiology. Access your knowledge base on common vector-borne diseases.
Systematically evaluate each option. Mentally associate each vector with the primary disease it transmits: Anopheles with malaria, Aedes with yellow fever/dengue, and Ixodes ticks with Lyme disease.
Eliminate the incorrect options based on these associations. Anopheles (malaria) and Ixodes/Black-legged tick (Lyme disease) are known for transmitting other pathogens.
Confirm that Aedes aegypti is the correct choice as the well-established primary vector for the yellow fever virus.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Vector-borne disease transmission, specifically the primary vector for the yellow fever virus.
Stem keywords: arthropod species, transmitting, yellow fever virus
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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