Question:easy
There is an outbreak of buboes in a community. What is the vector?
There is an outbreak of buboes in a community. What is the vector?
Show Hint
Buboes are the hallmark of plague caused by Yersinia pestis; think about which rodent flea transmits this disease.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- Xenopsylla (Rat Flea)
- Tse tse fly
- Human flea
- Sand fly
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Approach: Outbreak analysis via clinical sign identification
Buboes (enlarged tender lymph nodes) in a community outbreak = Bubonic plague caused by $Yersinia$ $pestis$.
Transmission chain:
Infected rat → Rat flea bites rat → Rat dies → Flea seeks new host → Flea bites human → Regurgitates $Y.$ $pestis$ during blood meal → Bubonic plague
Key vectors for important vector-borne diseases:
\[\boxed{\text{Xenopsylla cheopis (Rat Flea)}}\]
Buboes (enlarged tender lymph nodes) in a community outbreak = Bubonic plague caused by $Yersinia$ $pestis$.
Transmission chain:
Infected rat → Rat flea bites rat → Rat dies → Flea seeks new host → Flea bites human → Regurgitates $Y.$ $pestis$ during blood meal → Bubonic plague
Key vectors for important vector-borne diseases:
- $Xenopsylla$ $cheopis$ (Oriental rat flea) -- Bubonic plague ($Y.$ $pestis$)
- Tsetse fly -- African sleeping sickness ($T.$ $brucei$)
- Sandfly ($Phlebotomus$) -- Kala-azar ($Leishmania$)
- Triatomine bug -- Chagas disease ($T.$ $cruzi$)
- Female Anopheles -- Malaria ($Plasmodium$)
\[\boxed{\text{Xenopsylla cheopis (Rat Flea)}}\]
Was this answer helpful?
0
