During chikungunya surveillance in Kerala, investigators identify a container-breeding Aedes species with conspicuous white longitudinal stripes on a black thorax, breeding in tree holes and coconut shells in peri-domestic gardens, and found naturally infected with both dengue and chikungunya viruses. This species is:

• A Aedes aegypti
• B Aedes pseudotaeniatus
• C Aedes vittatus
• D Aedes albopictus ✓

Explanation

Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, bears a single median white stripe plus silvery-white markings on its black thorax, unlike the lyre-shaped silver pattern of Ae. aegypti. It is a secondary vector of dengue and an important vector of chikungunya, breeds outdoors in natural containers such as tree holes and bamboo stumps, and its spread to temperate regions caused the 2007 Italian chikungunya outbreak.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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