High School

In arthropod vectors, when a pathogen is transferred from a female to its eggs, it is referred to as __________ transmission.

Answer :

Final answer:

In arthropod vectors, the transfer of a pathogen from a female to its eggs is known as transovarial transmission, a form of vertical transmission central to the spread of certain diseases.

Explanation:

In arthropod vectors, when a pathogen is transferred from a female to its eggs it is referred to as transovarial transmission. This is a form of vertical transmission, which occurs when pathogens are transmitted from parent to offspring. Arthropods, such as ticks and mosquitoes, are known for this type of pathogen propagation. For example, in some tick species, the bacteria causing Lyme disease can be passed from the female tick to her eggs, leading to infected offspring that can spread the disease to new hosts.

Biological transmission is another key concept where the pathogen reproduces within a biological vector that transmits the pathogen from one host to another. Most arthropod vectors transmit pathogens by biting the host, such as in the case of hemipterans, also known as 'kissing bugs', which transmit Chagas disease through their bite and subsequent defecation.