Test your knowledge with Medical Entomology MCQs for Year 2 Parasitology. Essential practice for students and professionals. Improve your understanding of disea
--- Section A: Cockroaches 1. Which of the following best describes the role of cockroaches in disease transmission?A. Biological vectorsB. Mechanical vectorsC. Definitive hostsD. Intermediate hosts Correct answer: B. Mechanical vectors Explanation: Cockroaches mechanically transmit pathogens through contamination of food, utensils, and surfaces. 2. Which species of cockroach is most commonly found in hospitals and food establishments?A. Periplaneta americanaB. Blatta orientalisC. Blattella germanicaD. Blaberus giganteus Correct answer: C. Blattella germanica Explanation: The German cockroach is the most common domestic species, especially in warm indoor environments. 3. Cockroaches are important in medical entomology mainly because:A. They bite humans causing lesionsB. They act as intermediate hosts for PlasmodiumC. They mechanically carry pathogens on their bodiesD. They inject toxins through bites Correct answer: C. They mechanically carry pathogens on their bodies Explanation: Their legs and body surfaces can carry bacteria, fungi, and parasites from contaminated areas. 4. The ootheca of cockroaches refers to:A. Larval stageB. Egg caseC. Adult exoskeletonD. Feeding organ Correct answer: B. Egg case Explanation: Female cockroaches produce oothecae that contain multiple eggs, protecting them until hatching. 5. A notable feature of cockroaches relevant to control is:A. Their short life cycle makes control easyB. They live only outdoorsC. They hide in cracks and crevices making control difficultD. They depend on a single food source Correct answer: C. They hide in cracks and crevices making control difficult Explanation: Their nocturnal and cryptic behavior complicates elimination efforts. --- Section B: Non-Biting and Myiasis-Producing Flies 6. Which genus is commonly associated with facultative myiasis in humans?A. GlossinaB. MuscaC. CalliphoraD. Culex Correct answer: C. Calliphora Explanation: Blowflies such as Calliphora can cause facultative myiasis in neglected wounds. 7. Musca domestica is medically important because:A. It transmits malariaB. It serves as an intermediate host for filarial wormsC. It mechanically transmits pathogensD. It produces larval toxins Correct answer: C. It mechanically transmits pathogens Explanation: The common housefly carries pathogens on its body and regurgitates contaminated material. 8. The term “accidental myiasis” refers to:A. Larval infestation occurring in tissues intentionallyB. Larvae accidentally ingested or entering orificesC. Obligatory infestation by larvaeD. Vector transmission by flies Correct answer: B. Larvae accidentally ingested or entering orifices Explanation: It occurs when fly eggs or larvae enter tissues or cavities unintentionally. 9. The screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) causes:A. Facultative myiasis only in animalsB. Obligatory myiasis in living tissuesC. Mechanical transmission of bacteriaD. Malaria Correct answer: B. Obligatory myiasis in living tissues Explanation: Its larvae actively invade healthy tissues, causing severe lesions. 10. The housefly transmits pathogens mainly through:A. SalivaB. Regurgitation and fecal contaminationC. Blood feedingD. Vertical transmission Correct answer: B. Regurgitation and fecal contamination Explanation: Flies vomit and defecate on food, contaminating it with microbes. 11. Which fly species is known as the “tumbu fly” in Africa?A. Dermatobia hominisB. Cordylobia anthropophagaC. Stomoxys calcitransD. Musca domestica Correct answer: B. Cordylobia anthropophaga Explanation: This species causes cutaneous myiasis in humans and animals in tropical Africa. 12. Cordylobia anthropophaga infestation typically presents as:A. Painless ulcersB. Boil-like lesions with central breathing poresC. Severe systemic illnessD. Diffuse rashes Correct answer: B. Boil-like lesions with central breathing pores Explanation: Larvae develop under the skin causing furuncular lesions with visible openings. 13. Dermatobia hominis transmits its larvae to humans through:A. Direct oviposition on skinB. Using other insects as carriersC. Mechanical contamination of foodD. Blood meals Correct answer: B. Using other insects as carriers Explanation: Eggs are attached to blood-sucking insects; larvae enter skin when the insect feeds. 14. Myiasis can be prevented by:A. Allowing flies to access woundsB. Wearing open clothesC. Covering wounds and maintaining hygieneD. Avoiding bathing Correct answer: C. Covering wounds and maintaining hygiene Explanation: Good personal and wound hygiene prevents fly oviposition. 15. Facultative myiasis occurs when:A. Flies obligatorily invade living tissueB. Flies lay eggs in necrotic tissue but can survive without itC. Flies act as biological vectorsD. Larvae are ingested accidentally Correct answer: B. Flies lay eggs in necrotic tissue but can survive without it Explanation: Facultative species normally breed in decaying matter but can invade wounds. --- Section C: Tabanidae 16. The characteristic feature of tabanid flies is:A. Long proboscis adapted for sucking nectarB. Scissor-like mouthparts for painful bitesC. Reduced wingsD. Non-functional mouthparts Correct answer: B. Scissor-like mouthparts for painful bites Explanation: Female Tabanidae cause painful bites by cutting the skin to pool blood. 17. Tabanid flies are important vectors of:A. MalariaB. Loa loaC. Trypanosoma cruziD. Schistosoma haematobium Correct answer: B. Loa loa Explanation: Chrysops species transmit Loa loa filarial worms in West and Central Africa. 18. Only female Tabanidae bite because:A. Males lack mouthpartsB. Females require blood for egg developmentC. Males are nocturnalD. Females live longer Correct answer: B. Females require blood for egg development Explanation: The blood meal provides protein needed for egg maturation. 19. The larvae of Tabanidae typically develop in:A. Human tissuesB. Stagnant water and moist soilC. Inside mosquitoesD. Dry, arid environments Correct answer: B. Stagnant water and moist soil Explanation: Larvae are aquatic or semi-aquatic, often predatory. 20. Control of tabanid flies is difficult because:A. They are indoor pestsB. They have short lifespansC. Larvae develop in inaccessible breeding sitesD. They feed on plants only Correct answer: C. Larvae develop in inaccessible breeding sites Explanation: Their breeding habitats are large and difficult to treat with insecticides. Section D: Ticks 21. Which of the following statements best differentiates hard ticks (Ixodidae) from soft ticks (Argasidae)?A. Hard ticks have a visible scutum; soft ticks do notB. Hard ticks feed rapidly; soft ticks feed slowlyC. Hard ticks are endophilic; soft ticks are exophilicD. Hard ticks have flexible cuticle; soft ticks have rigid cuticle Correct answer: A. Hard ticks have a visible scutum; soft ticks do not Explanation: Ixodid ticks possess a dorsal shield (scutum) that is absent in Argasidae. 22. The mouthparts of a tick are located on the:A. PseudostomiumB. CapitulumC. ThoraxD. Scutum Correct answer: B. Capitulum Explanation: The capitulum bears the chelicerae and hypostome which penetrate the host’s skin. 23. The hypostome of ticks functions to:A. Secrete salivaB. Anchor the tick to the host during feedingC. Detect host odorsD. Cover the scutum Correct answer: B. Anchor the tick to the host during feeding Explanation: The backward-pointing barbs on the hypostome secure the tick in place. 24. Which stage of the tick life cycle has six legs?A. EggB. LarvaC. NymphD. Adult Correct answer: B. Larva Explanation: Larval ticks are six-legged; nymphs and adults have eight legs. 25. A three-host tick differs from a one-host tick because:A. It feeds only onceB. It uses a different host at each active stageC. It has no larval stageD. It reproduces asexually Correct answer: B. It uses a different host at each active stage Explanation: Larva, nymph, and adult feed on separate hosts, molting between each stage. 26. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is medically significant because it