answers already passed 2025/2026
List and define the different mechanisms of disease. - correct answer ✔- Developmental
- Metabolic
- Allergy
- Neoplastic
- Infectious
- Traumatic
- Vascular
List and define the host risk factors. - correct answer ✔- Breed
- Age
- Sex
- Reproductive Status
- Genetics
- Health Status
- Vaccine status
- immune status
- stress
What is the difference between Infectious disease and communicable/contagious disease? - correct
answer ✔• Infectious Disease: disease caused by an infectious agent such as a bacterium, virus,
protozoan, or fungus that can be passed onto others (microorganism to person)
• Communicable or Contagious Disease: disease passed person to person
, What factors determine the development of an infectious disease? - correct answer ✔- Virulence
- Route of entry
- Number of microbes
- Host risk factors
Transmission of Infectious Organisms - correct answer ✔For many diseases, direct contact is required
Vector - correct answer ✔an organism that does not itself cause disease but serves to transmit an
infectious organism from one host to another. Important arthropod vectors include fleas, ticks,
mosquitoes, and flies.
Mechanical vector - correct answer ✔Microbes do not multiply within the mechanical vector and the
vector physically transport microbes from host to host. Example: flies that carry a microbe on its legs
and contaminates food or water.
Biological vector - correct answer ✔The microbe is found within the vector's body and may be
transmitted directly or require a period of time within the vector in order to multiply or to develop to an
infectious stage before the biological vector can transmit the microbes. Examples: Tick transmitting the
bacteria that causes Lyme Disease; Mosquito that transmits the organism that causes Malaria.
Fomites - correct answer ✔an inanimate object (not living) that can become contaminated with a
pathogen which can then be carried to a susceptible host. Important fomites in the veterinary clinic
include dog brushes, stethoscopes, exam tables, mops, etc.
Direct Contact - correct answer ✔one of the most common ways that infectious disease organisms are
transmitted. Via contact with body fluids / secretions / skin / fur. Some diseases require direct contact
with the infected animal as the microbes may be very short lived outside the host. Examples of direct
contact: Rabies and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (bite wounds and infected saliva).