During surveillance for acute encephalitis syndrome in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Japanese encephalitis is confirmed. Which mosquito is the principal vector and which animal serves as the amplifying host in the transmission cycle?
- A Aedes aegypti; monkeys
- B Culex tritaeniorhynchus; pigs ✓
- C Anopheles culicifacies; cattle
- D Mansonia species; birds
Correct answer: B. Culex tritaeniorhynchus; pigs
Explanation
Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted chiefly by Culex tritaeniorhynchus, which breeds in rice paddies. Pigs act as the amplifying vertebrate host because they develop high-titre prolonged viremia, and wading birds serve as reservoirs; man is a dead-end host with low-level transient viremia. Cattle are non-amplifying hosts, and Aedes aegypti with primates defines the urban yellow fever cycle, facts that eliminate the other options. Indian convention cites Park's textbook for these control-relevant details.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.