NEHA Vector Control and Pest Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In public health, what is a 'vector' in the context of disease transmission?
- A pathogenic microorganism
- An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another (Correct answer)
- A chemical disinfectant used in pest control
- A type of personal protective equipment
Correct answer: An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another
A vector is a living organism, typically an arthropod such as a mosquito or tick, that transmits a pathogen between infected and uninfected hosts.
Question 2: Which mosquito genus is the primary vector for West Nile virus in the United States?
- Anopheles
- Aedes
- Culex (Correct answer)
- Mansonia
Correct answer: Culex
Culex mosquitoes, particularly Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus, are the primary vectors responsible for transmitting West Nile virus in the United States.
Question 3: What Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principle should be applied first before considering pesticide application?
- Apply the most toxic pesticide available
- Identify the pest and use non-chemical prevention and control methods first (Correct answer)
- Treat the entire area regardless of pest presence
- Apply pesticides on a fixed schedule
Correct answer: Identify the pest and use non-chemical prevention and control methods first
IPM principles prioritize accurate pest identification followed by non-chemical strategies such as sanitation, exclusion, and habitat modification before resorting to pesticide application.
Question 4: Which disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) in the northeastern United States?
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Malaria
- Lyme disease (Correct answer)
- Dengue fever
Correct answer: Lyme disease
Ixodes scapularis, commonly called the deer tick or black-legged tick, is the primary vector of Lyme disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi in the northeastern US.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of source reduction in mosquito control programs?
- To apply larvicides to standing water
- To eliminate or modify breeding habitats to prevent mosquito larval development (Correct answer)
- To apply adult mosquito pesticides by aircraft
- To introduce natural predators into all water bodies
Correct answer: To eliminate or modify breeding habitats to prevent mosquito larval development
Source reduction targets mosquito breeding sites by eliminating standing water, draining containers, or modifying drainage to prevent larval development before adult mosquitoes emerge.
Question 6: What is 'resistance management' in the context of pesticide use for vector control?
- Increasing pesticide doses to overcome resistance
- Rotating pesticide classes and using non-chemical methods to prevent development of pesticide-resistant pest populations (Correct answer)
- Banning all pesticide use
- Using only organochlorine pesticides
Correct answer: Rotating pesticide classes and using non-chemical methods to prevent development of pesticide-resistant pest populations
Resistance management involves rotating pesticide classes with different modes of action and integrating non-chemical control methods to slow the development of genetically resistant pest populations.
NEHA Vector Control and Pest Management 1
In public health, what is a 'vector' in the context of disease transmission?