Infections transmitted by arthropod biological vectors typically use which of the following portals of entry?

• A. Respiratory tract
• B. Genitourinary tract
• C. Gastrointestinal tract
• D. Skin

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that arthropod biological vectors, such as mosquitoes or ticks, transmit pathogens by biting the host and introducing the infectious agent directly into the body.
2. Recall that the portal of entry is the site through which a pathogen enters the host to initiate infection.
3. Recognize that since arthropods bite through the skin, the pathogens they transmit enter through the skin, not through respiratory, genitourinary, or gastrointestinal tracts.
4. Therefore, identify the skin as the primary portal of entry for infections transmitted by arthropod biological vectors.
5. Summarize that the skin acts as the direct entry point because the vector's bite bypasses other external barriers, allowing the pathogen to enter the bloodstream or tissues.