Vector Borne Diseases

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to vector-borne diseases, vector control methods, and the associated biological mechanisms.

Vector-borne disease

A disease that requires a vector, often arthropods like mosquitoes or ticks, for transmission.

Intrinsic incubation period

The time between infection by a pathogen and the appearance of symptoms within the host.

Extrinsic incubation period

The time between vector infection and the ability of the vector to transmit the pathogen.

Integrated Vector Management (IVM)

An approach to control vectors at different levels: ecological, organismal, and molecular.

Aedes aegypti

A mosquito species that transmits several diseases including dengue, Zika, and yellow fever.

Trypanosomiasis

A disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma, transmitted by tsetse flies, including Human African Sleeping Sickness.

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)

A method of controlling insect populations by releasing sterilized males to mate with wild females, reducing offspring.

Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT)

A vector control method that releases modified insects to cause reproductive failures in wild populations.

Wolbachia

An entomopathogenic bacteria used to reduce the transmission ability of virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Gene driving

A genetic engineering technique that encourages a specific gene to be inherited more frequently than it would naturally.

Dengue Serotypes

Four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4, that induce immunity to the same serotype.

Biocontrol

The use of natural organisms or substances to control pest populations.

Community engagement

Involving the community in awareness and preventive measures against vector-borne diseases.

Emerging pathogen

A newly discovered or previously unrecognized pathogen that is becoming more common or spreading to new areas.

Trypanosoma brucei

A protozoan that causes sleeping sickness in humans, transmitted by tsetse flies.

CATT Test

A Card Agglutination Test used for detecting Trypanosoma brucei gambiense antibodies in suspected cases.

Vector control

Methods implemented to prevent or reduce the spread of vector-borne diseases by controlling the populations of vectors.

Climate change impact on vectors

Alterations in climate patterns that affect the habitat, lifecycle, and distribution of disease vectors.

Symptoms of severe dengue

Include bleeding, severe abdominal pain, rapid breathing, and low body temperature.

Vector resistance

When vector populations develop resistance to insecticides, making control measures less effective.