Concept
Vector, reservoir, and definitive host
Transmission ecology vocabulary
VEK-ter REZ-er-vwar DEH-fih-nih-tiv hohst
High-yield clue
Vector transmits, reservoir maintains, definitive host supports parasite sexual reproduction.
Overview
A transmission-ecology concept for separating the organism that carries a pathogen, the usual habitat/source, and the host where sexual reproduction occurs for parasites.
Classification
- Epidemiology concept
- Transmission vocabulary
Lab & identification clues
- Vector-borne disease maps
- Reservoir-host diagrams
- Lifecycle terms in parasitology
Associations
- Borrelia burgdorferi
- Rickettsia rickettsii
- Schistosoma species
- Rabies virus
Commonly confused with
- Normal flora / microbiota
- Colonization vs contamination vs infection
Your notes
Original microbiology concept summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC/WHO topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment selection, infection-control instructions, or specimen-handling guidance.