Poultry Judging Practice Test

Which of the following is not a disease vector that can introduce infectious agents into a flock?

1. People

2. Infected eggs

3. Rodents

4. Vaccine

The correct answer is: Vaccine

The choice of vaccine as a correct answer stems from the understanding that vaccines are specifically designed to prevent diseases rather than introduce them. Vaccines contain attenuated or inactivated forms of pathogens or their components, which stimulate the immune system to recognize and respond to an actual infection. In contrast, disease vectors, such as people, infected eggs, and rodents, can carry and transmit infectious agents that may spread disease within a flock. Vaccine administration is a preventative health measure, aiming to build immunity among the birds and thereby safeguard them against potential infectious diseases. Consequently, the role of vaccines in poultry health management is fundamentally different from that of vectors, as vaccines are critical tools for disease control, not vectors that can spread pathogens.