Question 11: Bird-Arthropod-Man transmission is seen in
- A. Paragonimus westermani
- B. Plague
- C. Plasmodium falciparum
- D. Japanese encephalitis (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Japanese encephalitis***
- Japanese encephalitis virus typically cycles between **birds** (especially wading birds like herons) and **mosquitoes** (mainly *Culex* species), with humans and pigs being dead-end hosts.
- The mosquito acts as the **arthropod vector** transmitting the virus from infected birds to humans.
*Paragonimus westermani*
- This is a **lung fluke** with a complex life cycle involving snails and crustaceans as intermediate hosts, and humans or carnivorous mammals as definitive hosts.
- It does not involve a **bird-arthropod-man** transmission cycle.
*Plague*
- Plague is caused by the bacterium *Yersinia pestis* and is primarily transmitted by **fleas** (arthropods) from **rodents** (mammals) to humans.
- While it involves arthropods and humans, birds are not part of its primary transmission cycle.
*Plasmodium falciparum*
- *Plasmodium falciparum* causes **malaria** and is transmitted between humans by **Anopheles mosquitos** (arthropods).
- This transmission cycle is typically **human-mosquito-human**, with birds not being involved in the transmission to humans.