A patient in Assam develops fever, lymphadenopathy, and a painless skin ulcer with regional lymph node enlargement after a tick bite. PCR confirms Francisella tularensis. The tick vector responsible for tularaemia in this region belongs to which genus?
- A Dermacentor ✓
- B Ixodes
- C Haemaphysalis
- D Amblyomma
Correct answer: A. Dermacentor
Explanation
Tularaemia (ulceroglandular form) is transmitted by hard ticks; the most important vectors are Dermacentor andersoni (wood tick) and Dermacentor variabilis (dog tick) in North America, and Haemaphysalis concinna in Asia. However, Dermacentor species are the classic and most cited vector in exam contexts. Ixodes ticks transmit Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. Amblyomma transmits Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis in the Americas. Haemaphysalis transmits Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in India.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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