## Vector Identification **Key Point:** Aedes aegypti is the principal vector for dengue virus transmission in urban and periurban areas across India and most tropical regions. ### Characteristics of Aedes aegypti | Feature | Details | |---------|----------| | **Habitat** | Artificial water containers (tyres, flower pots, coolers, water tanks) in human dwellings | | **Biting behaviour** | Diurnal (peak biting: early morning and late afternoon) | | **Resting sites** | Dark corners, under furniture, inside homes | | **Flight range** | Limited (50–100 m from breeding site) | | **Preference** | Highly anthropophilic (prefers human blood) | | **Geographical spread** | Tropical and subtropical zones | **High-Yield:** Aedes aegypti is the **urban dengue vector**; Aedes albopictus is the **rural/forest dengue vector** (Asian tiger mosquito), though both can transmit dengue. ### Why Other Options Are Wrong - **Anopheles stephensi:** Malaria vector, not dengue - **Culex quinquefasciatus:** Japanese encephalitis and filariasis vector; nocturnal, breeds in polluted water - **Aedes albopictus:** Secondary vector; prefers rural/forested areas; less efficient urban transmitter **Clinical Pearl:** Control of dengue epidemics in India focuses on eliminating Aedes breeding sites through source reduction (emptying water containers, covering tanks) and space spraying during outbreaks.
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