Dhriti Banerjee et al.; Sch J Agric Vet Sci 2015; 2(3B):220-239. Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences e-ISSN 2348–1854 Sch J Agric Vet Sci 2015; 2(3B):220-239 p-ISSN 2348–8883 ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publishers (SAS Publishers) (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) Medical and Veterinary Entomology: The good and bad flies that affect human and animal life Dhriti Banerjee1*, Shyamasree Ghosh2, Waliza Ansar3 1Diptera Section, Molecular Systematic Division, Digitization Division & Zoological Survey of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests (Government of India), M Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053 2School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science, Education and Research, (NISER), Institute of Physics Campus, Sachivalaya Marg, PO: Sainik School, Bhubaneswar - 751 005, India. 3Behela College, Rabindra Palli, Parnasree, Banamali Naskar Road Kolkata 700060. *Corresponding Authors Name: Dr. Dhriti Banerjee Email:
[email protected] Abstract: Medical and veterinary entomology encompasses the study of the insects which are vectors, transmit disease, cause wounds, inject venom and create nuisances together with their application as useful providers of drugs, and model systems for genetic studies. Thus the study on insects and how they affect the human and animal lives have gained importance in recent times. Insect Genomics involving the studies of the whole genome sequences are being developed and gene expression and regulation studies are elucidating their roles in regulating the vector competence. This finds importance in deducing strategies for vector control thereby preventing disease spread that is fatal to man and animal life. In this review we have studied the medical entomology (i) from historical perspective (ii) diverse role of arthropods in causing diseases (iii) common pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors (iv) major arthropod borne diseases (v) pharmaceutically important insects.