PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
WBPSC Miscellaneous Preliminary 2023
Answer
Anopheles Mosquito
Explanation
Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. It is transmitted to humans exclusively through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Male mosquitoes do not feed on human blood; they survive on plant nectar.
Key Points
- > Pathogen: Plasmodium parasite (Protozoa).
- > Vector: Female Anopheles mosquito.
- > Most severe form is caused by Plasmodium falciparum.
- > Quinine, an anti-malarial drug, is extracted from the Cinchona tree.
- > Aedes mosquitoes transmit Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya.
- > Culex mosquitoes transmit Filariasis (Elephantiasis).
- > Sir Ronald Ross discovered the transmission cycle of malaria (Nobel 1902).
Additional Information
Mosquitoes and Vectors
| Mosquito Genus | Diseases Transmitted |
|---|---|
| Anopheles | Malaria |
| Aedes | Dengue, Yellow Fever, Zika |
| Culex | Filariasis, West Nile Virus |
Memory Tips
- MAD: Malaria by Anopheles, Dengue by Aedes.