Epidemiology and Control of Vector Borne Diseases

A collection of flashcards to aid in the understanding of vector-borne diseases and their impact on public health.

What equation represents vectorial capacity and what does each part mean?

C = (ma^2bp^n) /- ln(p)
m - number of vectors per person

a- number of bites per vector per day (squared to rep 2 blood meals needed)

b - vectorial competency (the probability that a vector will become infectious after biting a host

p - probability that the vector lives to see another day

n- EIP (extrinsic incubation period) - number of days required for the pathogen to incubate inside the host

What percentage of infectious diseases are vector borne diseases?

17% of all infectious diseases.

Which disease is the chief cause of malaria?

Malaria causes 219 million cases and 400K deaths annually.

Define a parasite.

Any organism dependent on the host for survival, which may or may not cause disease.

What is the difference between obligate and facultative parasites?

Obligate parasites need a host at all times, while facultative parasites can survive some life stages without a host.

What happens to vector transmission when the gonotrophic cycle is disrupted?

Breaking the cycle at any point can break the transmission.

What is the mode of mechanical transfer in vector-borne diseases?

Occurs passively and externally from host to host.

Give an example of a human lice that causes a vector-borne disease.

Pediculosis.

What is vector competence?

The susceptibility of an arthropod to become infected and transmit a parasite to a vertebrate host.

Define 'vectorial capacity'.

The number of new infectious mosquitoes that a vector population will induce per case per day.

List one medical importance of Phthiraptera.

Transmit pathogens that cause diseases such as typhus and relapsing fever.

What are the two major types of ticks discussed in class?

Icodidae (hard ticks) and Argasidae (soft ticks).

What is the primary goal for vector control?

Prevent mosquito bites.

What are two main types of drugs used to control malaria?

Benznidazole and Nifurtox.

What is the primary method for diagnosing vector-borne diseases?

Microscopy remains the cheapest method.

What is the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

Describes a population that is not evolving.

What adaptations allow females to lay eggs after feeding on blood?

The ingestion and digestion of blood proteins helps form eggs.

Where do Anopheles mosquitoes typically lay their eggs?

Surface habitats.

Define co-evolution in the context of parasites and hosts.

Parasites evolve as they adapt to their host, while hosts simultaneously adapt to combat the parasite.

How does genetic control aim to reduce mosquito populations?

By self-limiting systems such as female killing or male sterilization.

What are two environmental factors that influence mosquito behavior?

Wind velocity and temperature.

What is the effect of indoor insecticide spraying (IRS) on the vector control formula?

IRS reduces the survival rate (p) of mosquitoes.

Define semiochemical in insect behavior.

Smells that provide information for host finding and mating.

What is the method used for Molecular diagnostics?

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is the most accurate method.

What role does AI play in vector biology research?

AI is used for predicting mosquito populations and disease risk based on environmental data.