Question

Arbovirus (transmitted by arthropods) causes
A) Malaria
B) Dengue
C) Filariasis
D) Amoebiasis

Answer 1

Arbovirus is a name given to a group of viruses. The common symptoms of the infection caused by these viruses are fever headache, malaise, etc.

Complete Answer:
- Arthropoda is the largest phylum of Animalia. Arthropods form a major group of pathogen vectors because of their ability to feed on the blood at some or all stages of life cycles. Vectors like mosquitos, flies, sand flies, ticks, and mites transmit a large number of pathogens and cause diseases.
- Some pathogens are spread directly into the bloodstream while some vectors chew on the host skin and form a pool of blood from which they feed. The Anopheles mosquito acts as a vector for filariasis, malaria, arboviruses, and many others as well.
- When the mosquito feeds on the blood of the host, the parasite stored in its salivary glands is transferred into the host blood.
- Arbovirus is a name given to a group of viruses that are transmitted by arthropod vectors. It can affect animals, humans and plants. The common symptoms of the infection caused by these viruses are headache, fever, malaise, and sometimes encephalitis. Person-to-person transmission occurs through the blood.
- When the vector bites an infected person and then bites another healthy person, blood transfusions, organ transplantations and the use of blood products can spread the virus, if present in the donor’s blood. Diagnosis of the infection is done by testing blood and other body fluids.

Among the given options, the correct option is B, ‘Dengue’.

- Dengue virus is a type of arbovirus which causes dengue. The primary host is humans and the vectors are Aedes mosquitoes. The incubation period of this virus is 3 - 14 days and symptoms occur for 7 – 10 days. In some cases, the patients are asymptomatic but fever, headaches, rash, muscle, and joint pains are some of the signs.

Note: Arboviruses are mostly spread by insect bites and the most common being mosquitoes. Dengue fever caused by the Aedes mosquito has a mortality rate of 25% in severe cases. But with treatment, the rate is less than 1 %.