It is essential to understand how infections are spread, to reduce the risk of transmission in a veterinary setting.
Pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses and fungi) can be shed by the host through urine, faeces, blood, vomit, saliva, skin, respiratory droplets, and nasal or ocular discharges. These pathogens can be picked up by other animals/ humans through direct contact, or through a contaminated environment, object, and clothing.
The main routes of disease transmission are:
- Direct contact: Animal-Animal, Animal-Human
- Fomites: Shared equipment, contaminated inanimate objects
- Aerosol (airborne): Sneezing, coughing, barking, breathing
- Oral (ingestion): Contaminated food and water
- Vector borne: Parasites: fleas, ticks, mosquitos
It’s important to be aware that some pathogens/organisms can be transmitted by more than one route.
Click on the image below to learn about these main routes of transmission.