Ohio Vector Practice Exam

The correct answer is that fleas are the vectors responsible for transmitting the plague. The plague is primarily caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is carried by fleas that infest rodents. When fleas bite infected rodents, they can become carriers of the bacterium and subsequently transmit it to other hosts, including humans, through their bites.

Fleas are particularly notorious for their role in historical plague outbreaks, notably the Black Death in the 14th century. Although fleas are typically associated with specific environments where their rodent hosts are present, they are indeed the main vector for the transmission of the plague bacterium.

While it's true that fleas may not be commonly found in all areas, including Ohio, their classification as the plague vectors is based on their transmission role rather than the geographic distribution of their populations. Therefore, their association with the plague is crucial knowledge for understanding vector-borne diseases, even if they are not widespread in every state at all times.

The other options involve different types of vectors that do not play a role in the transmission of plague. For example, ticks and mosquitoes are notable for transmitting other diseases, but not plague specifically, and rodents, while being associated hosts, do not transmit the bacteria themselves; they require fleas