Microbiology Practice Exam

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Which insect is a known vector for Chagas disease?

Tick
Kissing bug
Mosquito
Teetse fly

The correct answer is: Kissing bug

The known vector for Chagas disease is the kissing bug. Kissing bugs, which are members of the Triatominae subfamily of the Reduviidae family, play a crucial role in the transmission of the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, which causes Chagas disease. These insects typically feed on the blood of their hosts, often at night, and their feces can contaminate the bite wound or mucous membranes, leading to infection. The species most commonly associated with Chagas disease in the Americas includes Triatoma infestans, among others. In contrast, ticks are primarily associated with diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, mosquitoes are well-known vectors for diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and the tsetse fly is primarily responsible for transmitting Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, which is caused by a different species of Trypanosoma. Each of these insects is associated with different pathogens and diseases, underscoring the specific role that kissing bugs play in Chagas disease transmission.