ARTHROPODS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
IMPORTANCE

ARTHROPODS OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE
CLASS INSECTA:
MOSQUITOES
FLIES
FLEAS
LICE
BUGS

MOSQUITOES
Important group of Mosquitoes in India that spread diseases are four in number
1. Anopheles
2. Culex
3. Aedes
4. Mansoniades

4 differences among genera of adult mosquito
The important genera of mosquitoes that are of public health
importance are Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex.
The stages of a mosquito’s life cycle are as follows:
1. Eggs
2. Larva
3. Pupa
4. Adult mosquito

Egg - hatches when exposed to water.

Larva - (plural: larvae) "wriggler" lives
in water; molts several times

• Pupa - (plural: pupae)
"tumbler" does not
feed; stage just before
emerging as adult.
• Adult - flies short time
after emerging and
after its body parts have
hardened.

Malaria
 Mal’ aria means “bad air” (Originally thought to be caused by foul air)
 A life-threatening protozoan disease
 40% of the world’s population is at risk of getting the disease
 80% of population in India lives in low malaria endemic region
 80% of malaria burden in India is confined to 20% of population that live
in malaria endemic region in India

Female anopheles mosquito is the vector
o P. vivax
o P. Falciparum
The mosquito breeds in polluted water bodies,
brackish water, wells, cisterns, fountains, overhead tanks
etc.
 Mosquito bites during night time

Severe Malaria - consequences
-• Jaundice
-• Seizure
-• Bleeding problems
-• Liver failure
-• Kidney failure
-• Multi organ failure
-• “Death” also as a possible outcome

Integration of various potential methods for control of disease vectors

Flies

Sand fly