Medical Entomology (Mosquitoes, Flies, Ticks) MCQs

Community Medicine (PSM) · 49 free questions with answers & explanations.

1. Culex quinquefasciatus is the principal vector responsible for transmission of which of the following diseases in urban India?
2. The Entomological Inoculation Rate (EIR) for malaria is calculated as:
3. Phlebotomus argentipes is the vector for visceral leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) in India. Which characteristic of this sandfly makes indoor residual spraying (IRS) with DDT effective as the primary vector control measure?
4. In a dengue-endemic urban area, a health team calculates the Stegomyia (House) index as 12%. According to WHO risk thresholds, this indicates:
5. Aedes aegypti breeds preferentially in which type of water collection, making it difficult to control using conventional larvicidal methods applied to open water bodies?
6. The entomological threshold for dengue vector control is a Breteau Index (BI) of ≥ 5. A Breteau Index of 18 is found in a community. What does this indicate?
7. Phlebotomus argentipes (sandfly) transmits Leishmania donovani (kala-azar) only in the Indian subcontinent. The characteristic feature that makes it an efficient vector despite being a weak flier is:
8. Phlebotomus argentipes is the primary vector of Kala-azar in India. It differs from mosquitoes in that it:
9. Phlebotomus argentipes is the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in India. Which of the following bionomic characteristics makes indoor residual spraying (IRS) with DDT highly effective against this vector?
10. The container index (CI) in Aedes surveillance measures the percentage of water-holding containers positive for Aedes larvae. A CI of 25% in an urban area indicates:
11. Aedes aegypti, the primary dengue vector, has a distinctive resting position and breeding habitat that differ from Anopheles mosquitoes. Which combination correctly describes Aedes aegypti?
12. In the context of malaria vector control, the 'sporozoite rate' of an Anopheles mosquito is the proportion of mosquitoes with sporozoites in their salivary glands. The 'inoculation rate' (entomological inoculation rate — EIR) is calculated as:
13. Scrub typhus is caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted by the bite of infected larval mites (chiggers) of the genus Leptotrombidium. Which clinical feature, when present, is highly specific for the diagnosis of scrub typhus?
14. 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?
15. Aedes aegypti mosquito is an important vector of dengue and Zika virus. Which biological feature makes it more dangerous in urban settings compared to Anopheles mosquitoes?
16. Phlebotomus argentipes is the primary vector of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in India. Which characteristic of this sandfly is most important for designing vector control?
17. Phlebotomus argentipes is the vector of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in the Indian subcontinent. A specific feature that distinguishes it from other sandflies of public health importance is:
18. In assessing Aedes aegypti larval density for dengue control operations, the 'Container Index' is defined as:
19. Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue, is distinguished from Culex mosquitoes by all of the following characteristics EXCEPT:
20. The 'gonotrophic cycle' in Anopheles mosquitoes determines malaria vectorial capacity because it defines the:
21. Scrub typhus is transmitted by which vector, and the larval stage responsible for transmission is:
22. The entomological index used to assess Aedes aegypti infestation in urban areas for dengue risk is the House Index (HI), Breteau Index (BI), and Container Index (CI). The Breteau Index is defined as:
23. Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) is transmitted by the bite of the female sandfly. The vector responsible for transmission of Leishmania donovani in India (Bihar focus) is:
24. The Man-Biting Rate (MBR) of a mosquito vector is calculated as the number of female mosquitoes biting per man per night. In malaria entomological surveillance, which index combines MBR with the sporozoite rate to give the most direct estimate of malaria transmission intensity?
25. Phlebotomus argentipes is the vector responsible for transmitting which of the following diseases in India?
26. Which of the following correctly matches the mosquito genus with its characteristic resting posture and disease transmission?
27. The Mansonia mosquito (vector of Brugian filariasis) differs from other mosquitoes in obtaining oxygen for its aquatic larvae through which unique mechanism?
28. The vector of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in India belongs to which genus of hard ticks?
29. Anopheles stephensi, an urban malaria vector in India, breeds in which type of water habitat?
30. Culex quinquefasciatus is the primary vector for Bancroftian filariasis in India. Which of the following correctly describes the microfilarial periodicity and its relationship to the vector's biting behavior?
31. The Stegomyia (Breteau) Index is used to assess Aedes aegypti infestation. It is defined as:
32. Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector for dengue. The key characteristic that distinguishes it from other Aedes species used in vector surveillance is:
33. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, vector for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, is identified by its characteristic marking of:
34. House index, Container index, and Breteau index are entomological indices used for surveillance of:
35. The Stegomyia indices are used in dengue surveillance. Which index measures the proportion of houses with Aedes aegypti containers relative to houses inspected?
36. Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) is transmitted by which vector, and what is India's target year for eliminating it from the Indian subcontinent?
37. The House Index (HI) is a key Aedes aegypti surveillance metric for dengue risk assessment. Which of the following correctly defines HI?
38. Sandfly fever (Phlebotomus fever/Pappataci fever) is transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi. The incubation period of sandfly fever is approximately:
39. The Stegomyia indices used in dengue surveillance include the Container Index, Breteau Index, and House Index. The Breteau Index is defined as the number of:
40. The Stegomyia indices are used for measuring Aedes aegypti density in a locality for dengue risk assessment. Which index is considered the MOST sensitive indicator of dengue transmission risk?
41. Phlebotomus sandfly is the vector for which of the following diseases in India?
42. The Stegomyia (Aedes) index used to assess dengue transmission risk is calculated as:
43. The Stegomyia index (House Index) measures the percentage of houses with Aedes aegypti larvae. A Stegomyia index above which level indicates risk of dengue outbreak?
44. Which of the following is the vector for Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) in India?
45. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector for all of the following EXCEPT:
46. The Man Biting Rate (MBR) in malaria vector surveillance is calculated as:
47. The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds preferentially in which type of water source, and what is the KEY behavioural characteristic that makes it difficult to control with standard larvicidal measures?
48. Stegomyia index (Container index) in dengue surveillance is calculated as:
49. Phlebotomus (sandfly) transmits Kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis). Which characteristic distinguishes Phlebotomus from other disease-transmitting insects in terms of habitat for control purposes?