Which of the following mosquitoes is responsible for the spread of Dengue?

Appeared in: Haryana CHO -2023

Explanation

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito.
The primary vectors are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
These mosquitoes are easily recognized by their black and white striped bodies and are often called 'tiger mosquitoes'.
A key characteristic is their day-biting behavior, with peak activity in the early morning and late afternoon.
They breed in artificial collections of clean water found in and around human homes, such as in flower pots, coolers, and discarded tires.

Option B: The Anopheles mosquito is the primary vector for Malaria, not Dengue.
Option C: The Culex mosquito is known to transmit diseases like Japanese Encephalitis and Bancroftian Filariasis.
Option D: The Mansonia mosquito is the vector for Brugian Filariasis, a type of lymphatic filariasis.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vector of Dengue Fever as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Identifying the correct vector is fundamental for public health officials to design and implement effective vector control strategies. For Dengue, this means focusing on eliminating man-made water containers where Aedes mosquitoes breed.
Nurses are at the forefront of patient and community education. Knowing the vector's habits (day-biting, clean water breeding) allows for targeted and effective advice on prevention.
In a clinical setting, understanding the local prevalence of different vector-borne diseases helps in forming a differential diagnosis for a patient presenting with fever.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: it asks to link a disease (Dengue) with its specific mosquito vector.
This is a factual recall question based on knowledge of communicable diseases and their modes of transmission.
Systematically review the options by recalling the primary disease associated with each mosquito genus.
Recall that Anopheles transmits Malaria.
Recall that Culex transmits Japanese Encephalitis and Filariasis.
Recall that Aedes transmits Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika.

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

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2073-2075

Practise the full Haryana CHO -2023

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