Which mosquito species is the principal vector of Japanese encephalitis in India, transmitting infection from amplifying hosts such as pigs to humans?

• A Anopheles culicifacies
• B Aedes aegypti
• C Mansonia annulifera
• D Culex tritaeniorhynchus ✓

Explanation

Japanese encephalitis is transmitted primarily by Culex tritaeniorhynchus, a rice-field breeding, night-biting vector; pigs act as amplifying hosts and wading birds as reservoirs. Anopheles culicifacies transmits malaria, Aedes aegypti transmits dengue and chikungunya, and Mansonia species transmit brugian filariasis. This vector-host relationship underpins JE control measures such as pig segregation from dwellings.

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

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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