The vector of malaria parasites is

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NDA-I (GAT) Official Paper (Held On: 13 Apr, 2025)
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  1. Male Anopheles mosquito
  2. Male Culex mosquito
  3. Female Anopheles mosquito
  4. Female Culex mosquito

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : Female Anopheles mosquito
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The correct answer is Female Anopheles mosquito

Explanation:

  • Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. These parasites are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
  • The vector responsible for transmitting malaria is the Female Anopheles mosquito, which acts as the carrier of the Plasmodium parasites.
  • The Female Anopheles mosquito is the primary vector responsible for malaria transmission.
  • Female Anopheles mosquitoes feed on human blood to obtain nutrients needed for egg production, and during this process, they can transmit Plasmodium parasites if they are infected.
  • Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle that involves both humans and mosquitoes. When a Female Anopheles mosquito feeds on the blood of an infected person, it ingests Plasmodium gametocytes. These gametocytes develop into sporozoites in the mosquito's salivary glands. When the mosquito bites another person, the sporozoites enter the human bloodstream, initiating the infection.
  • The Female Anopheles mosquito is the only type of mosquito capable of transmitting malaria, as it provides the necessary environment for the Plasmodium parasite to complete its life cycle.

Other Options:

  • Male Anopheles mosquito: Male mosquitoes do not feed on blood; they primarily feed on nectar and other plant juices. Therefore, they cannot transmit malaria or any other blood-borne diseases.
  • Male Culex mosquito: Similar to Male Anopheles mosquitoes, Male Culex mosquitoes feed on nectar and are not involved in disease transmission.
  • Female Culex mosquito: While Female Culex mosquitoes do feed on blood, they are not vectors for malaria. Instead, they are known to transmit other diseases, such as West Nile virus, filariasis, and Japanese encephalitis.
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