Disease vector

The first major discovery of a disease vector came from Ronald Ross in 1897, who discovered the malaria pathogen when he dissected the stomach tissue of a mosquito.

[6][7] The Anopheles mosquito, a vector for malaria, filariasis, and various arthropod-borne-viruses (arboviruses), inserts its delicate mouthpart under the skin and feeds on its host's blood.

The Triatomine bugs defecate during feeding and the excrement contains the parasites, which are accidentally smeared into the open wound by the host responding to pain and irritation from the bite.

[10][11][12][13] There are several species of Thrips that act as vectors for over 20 viruses, especially Tospoviruses, and cause all sorts of plant diseases.

For example, the big-vein disease of lettuce was long thought to be caused by a member of the fungal division Chytridiomycota, namely Olpidium brassicae.

In the case of Puccinia graminis for example, Berberis and related genera act as alternate hosts in a cycle of infection of grain.

[b][23] In April 2014, WHO launched a campaign called "Small bite, big threat" to educate people about vector-borne illnesses.

A mosquito shortly after obtaining blood from a human (note the droplet of blood plasma being expelled as the mosquito squeezes out excess water). Mosquitos are a vector for several diseases, including malaria .
The deer tick , a vector for Lyme disease pathogens
This figure shows how the Flavivirus is carried by mosquitos in the West Nile virus and Dengue fever . The mosquito would be considered a disease vector.
Public health agencies educate people about many different disease vectors. This artwork, at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , shows 10 different animal vectors.