Match the disease (Column I) with its biological vector (Column II).
Column I: P. Chagas disease; Q. Trypanosomiasis; R. Leishmaniasis; S. Yellow Fever
Column II: 1. Tsetse flies; 2. Mosquitoes; 3. Sandflies; 4. Reduviid bugs
P-4; Q-1; R-3; S-2
P-2; Q-3; R-4; S-1
P-1; Q-4; R-3; S-2
P-3; Q-1; R-2; S-4
ANSWER
The correct matching is P-4; Q-1; R-3; S-2, which is option (A).
Official answer: ASource: Official answer key, GATE 2024 BT (IISc Bengaluru)
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted by reduviid (triatomine, or kissing) bugs, which pass the parasite in their faeces. So P matches 4.
Trypanosomiasis here means African sleeping sickness, caused by Trypanosoma brucei. Its vector is the tsetse fly (Glossina). So Q matches 1.
Leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania species. It is spread by the bite of female sandflies (Phlebotomus). So R matches 3.
Yellow fever is a viral disease caused by a flavivirus. It is spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. So S matches 2.
The pairing is P-4; Q-1; R-3; S-2, which is option (A).
Option (B) fails because it pairs Chagas disease with mosquitoes, and yellow fever with tsetse flies. Option (C) fails because it pairs Chagas disease with tsetse flies. Option (D) fails because it pairs Chagas disease with sandflies and yellow fever with reduviid bugs.
KEY IDEA
Match each vector-borne disease with its vector. Chagas disease goes with reduviid bugs, sleeping sickness with tsetse flies, leishmaniasis with sandflies, and yellow fever with Aedes mosquitoes.
WATCH OUT FOR
Mixing up the two trypanosomal diseases. Chagas disease (T. cruzi) is spread by reduviid bugs, while African sleeping sickness (T. brucei) is spread by tsetse flies. Another slip is assigning sandflies to Chagas disease instead of leishmaniasis.
From the GATE 2024 BT paper. Every question of this paper · Download the full paper · All 11 Pathogens & antibiotics questions, with notes
