Which factor is NOT part of vectorial capacity?

Which factor is NOT part of vectorial capacity?

• A. Mosquito density
• B. Daily survival
• C. Blood meal digestion time
• D. Feeding cycle

Answer: (C)

Vectorial capacity measures how capable a mosquito population is at transmitting a pathogen by combining how many mosquitoes feed on hosts, how long they live, and how quickly the pathogen develops to an infectious stage inside them. The factors that fit into this are mosquito density, daily survival, and the biting rate (which is tied to feeding behavior). The time needed for the pathogen to complete development inside the mosquito (the extrinsic incubation period) also matters because longer development reduces the chance that a mosquito will live long enough to transmit. Blood meal digestion time isn’t part of this transmission-potential calculation, so it doesn’t directly influence vectorial capacity.

Vectorial capacity measures how capable a mosquito population is at transmitting a pathogen by combining how many mosquitoes feed on hosts, how long they live, and how quickly the pathogen develops to an infectious stage inside them. The factors that fit into this are mosquito density, daily survival, and the biting rate (which is tied to feeding behavior). The time needed for the pathogen to complete development inside the mosquito (the extrinsic incubation period) also matters because longer development reduces the chance that a mosquito will live long enough to transmit. Blood meal digestion time isn’t part of this transmission-potential calculation, so it doesn’t directly influence vectorial capacity.