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

What is a primary transmission mechanism of foreign animal diseases?

1. Animal to animal contact

2. Waterborne spread

3. Aerosol transmission

4. Vector-mediated transfer

The correct answer is: Animal to animal contact

Animal-to-animal contact is indeed a primary transmission mechanism for many foreign animal diseases. This mode of transmission occurs when infected animals come into direct physical contact with healthy animals. It allows pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria, to spread rapidly within populations, particularly in crowded environments like farms or during transport. In addition to direct contact, the presence of asymptomatic carriers—animals that harbor the disease without outward signs—can complicate control efforts, as these carriers can spread the disease unknowingly. This emphasizes the importance of monitoring animal health and enforcing biosecurity measures to prevent outbreaks. While other transmission mechanisms such as waterborne spread, aerosol transmission, and vector-mediated transfer do occur in some diseases, they are not as universally applicable as direct contact between animals, which remains a fundamental pathway for the transmission of many infectious agents in animal populations.