Transboundary Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease/ Exotic Animal Disease Practice Exam

There is an outbreak of an infectious agent known to be transmitted directly and persist in the environment. Which of the following is a high risk for transmission?

1. Vertical transmission

2. Transstadial transmission

3. Fomite transmission

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Fomite transmission

Fomite transmission refers to the transfer of infectious agents through inanimate objects or materials that can harbor pathogens, such as clothing, utensils, or surfaces. In situations where an infectious agent can persist in the environment, fomites become a significant risk for spreading the disease. Unlike other transmission methods, like vertical or transstadial transmission, which involve living organisms—either from mother to offspring or through life stages of parasites—fomite transmission does not rely on direct contact with a host and can result in widespread dissemination of the infection through contaminated surfaces. In cases of an outbreak, if the infectious agent can survive outside a host for extended periods, contaminated surfaces can serve as reservoirs for the pathogen, potentially leading to high rates of transmission among animals or between animals and humans. This underscores the importance of rigorous cleaning, disinfection, and biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of fomite transmission during outbreaks of such infectious agents.