Animal
disease vector
dis·ease vec·tor
Subclass of:
disease transmission; Chain of Infection
Definitions related to disease vectors:
  • (vector) An organism that can carry and transmit a pathogen to another organism.
    NICHD Pediatric Terminology
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • An invertebrate animal (e.g., tick, mite, mosquito, bloodsucking fly) capable of transmitting an infectious agent among vertebrates.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Index also with the most specific vector organism name available; see RTs for specific organisms.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Invertebrates or non-human vertebrates which transmit infective organisms from one host to another.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.