Question

There is an outbreak of buboes in a community . What is the vector

• A. Xenopsylla [Rat Flea]
• B. Tse tse fly
• C. Human flea
• D. Sand fly

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Bubonic plague is an infectious disease that is often associated with the presence of swollen lymph nodes, known as buboes. The primary vector responsible for transmitting the bacteria causing the bubonic plague is the flea Xenopsylla cheopis, commonly known as the rat flea. This flea typically infests rodents, particularly rats, which are reservoirs for the bacterium Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the disease. When an infected rat flea bites a human, the bacterium can be transmitted, leading to the development of buboes. Therefore, in the context of an outbreak of buboes in a community, the most likely vector is Xenopsylla cheopis, the rat flea.

Vector	Description
Xenopsylla cheopis	Rat Flea - Primary vector for bubonic plague
Tse tse fly	Vector for African sleeping sickness
Human flea	Not a common vector for bubonic plague
Sand fly	Vector for leishmaniasis

In conclusion, the vector associated with an outbreak of buboes in a community is the Xenopsylla cheopis, or rat flea.