Question

Which of the following is the carrier of microfilariae?
(a)Culex
(b)Aedes
(c)Anopheles
(d)Tabanus

Answer 1

It is a mosquito genus, most members of which are vectors of one or more big bird, human, and other animal diseases. Arbovirus infections such as West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, or St. Louis encephalitis, but also filariasis and avian malaria are the diseases they carry.

Complete answer:
In the life cycle of some parasitic nematodes, such as Wuchereria bancrofti, microfilaria is an early stage that causes a disease known as filariasis. Adult worms live in the tissue or the vertebrate circulatory system. They release microfilariae into the vertebrate host bloodstream. Microfilariae are ingested by arthropod vectors that feed on blood, most commonly by the female Culex mosquito. The microfilariae are released into the bloodstream when a mosquito bites a healthy person.

Additional Information: Compared to other mosquito genera, Culex mosquitoes appear to have relatively blunt-shaped posterior abdomens and are small and delicate (Marshall 2006). Based on two peculiar characteristics, female mosquitoes of the subgenus Melanoconion can be identified: 1) the thorax has a scutum missing acrostichal setae, and 2) the head has large, flat scales behind the compound eyes.
Anopheles is a mosquito genus which was first described and named by J. In 1818, W. Meigen. Approximately 460 species are recognised; while over 100 can transmit human malaria, only 30-40 parasites of the genus Plasmodium are frequently transmitted, causing malaria in humans in endemic areas.
Originally distributed in tropical and subtropical areas, Aedes is a genus of mosquitoes, but is now distributed on all continents except Antarctica.
So, the correct answer is ‘Culex’.

Note: A mosquito-borne infection is lymphatic filariasis, usually referred to as elephantiasis. The main vector of elephantiasis is Culex mosquito, but elephantiasis is also known to be spread by Anopheles and Aedes mosquitos. Digenetic nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filarioidea are the causative agent for Elephantiasis.