Vector
An animal that carries a pathogen from one host to another without usually being harmed itself.
Last updated
Analogy
A delivery driver carrying a harmful package.
In practice
The female Anopheles mosquito spreads the malaria protist when she bites.
Practice
Flashcards
- What is a vector?An organism that spreads a pathogen, such as a mosquito spreading malaria.
Questions people ask
Why is malaria hard to control?
Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, which breed in standing water and are hard to remove completely. The malaria protist also changes form, which makes a vaccine harder to design. Control relies on bed nets, insecticides, draining pools and drugs for treatment and prevention.
Is a vector the same as a pathogen?
No. The pathogen is the microorganism that causes the disease, such as the malaria protist. The vector is the animal that carries it between hosts, such as a mosquito. Removing the vector can stop the disease from spreading even if the pathogen is still around.