What is Vector (biology)?
{{About|Vector (biology)||Vector}} A '''vector''' in biology is an animal on or in which a small living thing gets [[transport]]ed. The vector gets no benefit and sometimes loses [[fitness]] by the arrangement. The term is most used for the transport of [[parasite]]s and agents of [[infection]] or [[disease]]. So, deadly diseases, such as [[malaria]] and [[dengue fever]], are carried by some [[mosquito]]es. The study of vectors gives us knowledge about the [[life cycle]] of parasitic diseases, and this helps us control those diseases. ==Examples== [[File:Anopheles stephensi.jpeg|thumb|An ''Anopheles stephensi'' [[mosquito]] shortly after obtaining blood from a human (the droplet of blood is expelled as a surplus). This mosquito is a vector of [[malaria]]. Fighting mosquitos in areas with malaria will fight malaria effectively.]] === Insects === ==== Flies ==== *[[Mosquito]]es ** [[Mosquito]]es of the ''[[Anopheles]]'' genus transmit human [[malaria]] and [[elephantiasis]] (a roundworm disease).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microbiologybytes.com/introduction/Malaria.html|title=MicrobiologyBytes: Malaria|publisher=|access-date=2012-12-18|archive-date=2010-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310165521/http://www.microbiologybytes.com/introduction/Malaria.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ** ''[[Aedes]]'' mosquitoes are vectors of [[avian malaria]], [[dengue fever]], [[yellow fever]] and [[chikungunya]] (a viral disease).<ref>[https://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/arbor/albopic_new.htm CDC: ''Aedes albopictus'']</ref> * [[Sand fly|Sand flies]] transmit [[leishmaniasis]], [[bartonellosis]] and [[pappataci fever]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virushunters.net/showabstract.php?pmid=16866034|title=Stages in the identification of phlebotomine sandflies as vectors of leishmaniases and other tropical diseases|publisher=}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> *[[Tsetse fly|Tsetse flies]] Several [[genera]] are vectors of human [[African trypanosomiasis]] also known a