What is the Difference Between Mechanical and Biological Transmission?

The difference between mechanical and biological transmission lies in the way the pathogens are transmitted by vectors, which are living organisms that carry infectious agents from one host to another. There are two main types of transmission:

1. Mechanical Transmission: In this type of transmission, mechanical vectors, such as flies, pick up pathogens on the outside of their bodies and transmit them to new hosts through physical contact. The pathogens do not multiply within the vector's body, and the transmission is considered passive. An example of mechanical transmission is a fly landing on fecal matter and later transmitting bacteria from the feces to food that it lands on.
2. Biological Transmission: In biological transmission, biological vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks, carry pathogens that can multiply within their bodies and are usually transmitted by biting. The transmission is considered active because the pathogens reproduce within the vector. Biological vectors are responsible for transmitting diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease.

Both mechanical and biological transmission can result in the spread of deadly human and animal diseases. To prevent these diseases, it is essential to control both types of transmission modes.

Comparative Table: Mechanical vs Biological Transmission

Mechanical and biological transmission are two different types of disease transmission modes. Both involve the transfer of pathogens to a new host through specific vectors, but they differ in the way the pathogens are transmitted:

In summary, mechanical transmission involves the passive transfer of pathogens from one host to another, while biological transmission involves the active transfer of pathogens within the vector's body, where they can reproduce and grow more infectious.