Spreading of Communicable Disease Through Vectors


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Spreading of Communicable Disease Through Vectors

Spreading of Communicable Disease Through Vectors :

Through insects and animals: There are some insects and animals which act as carriers of disease-causing microbes. These animal insects are called vectors. Vectors carry disease-causing microbes from an infected person to a healthy person and cause disease. Some of the vectors are:

(i) Housefly: The housefly is perhaps the most  dangerous disease carrier. It collects the disease-causing microbe on its legs and mouth parts from faeces an organic wastes. The same housefly when sits on our exposed food items, leaves the disease-causing microbes on the food. When we consume such food, we get infected. Various diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid and tuberculosis are known to spread by houseflies through contaminated food and water. So, we should avoid eating uncovered food items.

(ii) Mosquito : The female Anopheles mosquito  sucks the blood of human beings. While doing so, it also transmits Plasmodiurn (a protozoan) into the human blood. Plasmodium causes malaria, a fatal disease. Aedes mosquito acts as a carrier of dengue virus. All the mosquitoes breed in water. Hence one should not let water collect in coolers, tyres, flower pots, etc. By keeping our surroundings clean and dry, we can prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Except mosquitoes, there  are a lot of insects and  other arthropods(or even other invertebrates) that could act as vectors, e.g. ticks,flies,sand flies,triatomines or even some fresh water snails. 

In animals: Several microorganisms cause diseases not only in humans but also in other cattle that is cows, buffaloes and poultry birds. The diseases reduce the milk egg production, growth of birds and death.

In plants: Several microorganisms cause diseases in plants like wheat, rice, potato, sugar cane, apples, oranges, cotton and jute. The diseases reduce the yield of crops. The plant diseases are transmitted through seed, air and soil.

Sample Questions
(More Questions for each concept available in Login)
Question : 1

Identify the correct definition of "pathogen" ?

Right Option : A
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Question : 2

An infectious disease which spreads from vertebrate vector to man is _________________

Right Option : B
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Explanation
Question : 3

Vector tsetse fly is the carrier of the pathogen _________________

Right Option : C
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Explanation
 
 
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