Mosquitoes are one of the most important vectors of arboviruses. Common viruses transmitted by mosquitoes: dengue, zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, and many others. 

Mosquitoes and Emerging Pathogens

Common arthropods that are vectors are:
- Mosquitoes
- Ticks
- Sandflies
- Black flies
- Tsetse flies
- Lice
- Fleas
- Aquatic snails
- Triatome bugs

Georgetown University

University of California, Davis

Vector borne disease is a disease that is transmitted to humans, plants, and animals by any arthropod species. 

Vector Borne Diseases

An invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and paired joint appendages. Member of the Arthropoda phylum.

Arthropod

“Vector-Borne Diseases.” World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases

Vector-Borne Diseases (World Health Organization Fact Sheet)

Arthropods in Vector Borne Diseases

Vector borne pathogens allowed for easier and faster dissemination of emerging pathogens in 3 ways:
- it can be easily transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods
- it overcomes spatial, behavioral, and ecological barriers between animals and humans. Direct contact between host and reservoir is no longer needed
- complexity of vector transmission offers pathogens more opportunities to evolve and increase pathogenicity to humans

Contributions of Vector Borne Pathogens to Emerging Diseases

- Vector borne viral disease (Arboviruses) 
- Vector borne parasitic diseases
- Vector borne bacterial disease

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