Which arthropod is known for passing pathogens to its eggs?

Ticks are known for the ability to transmit various pathogens not only through their bites but also by passing them to their eggs. This means that when a tick feeds on an infected host, it can acquire pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or protozoa. These pathogens can then be transovarially transmitted, meaning they are passed from the adult female tick to her eggs before they even hatch. This ability to perpetuate the presence of the pathogen in subsequent generations of ticks adds a layer of complexity to controlling tick-borne diseases, as offspring can emerge already capable of transmitting the pathogens to new hosts.

Mosquitoes can also transmit pathogens, but they typically do so through their saliva during feeding rather than through their eggs. Body lice and fleas have unique transmission methods as well; body lice primarily spread diseases like typhus through direct contact rather than through egg transmission. Similarly, fleas can carry diseases but do not have the same capacity to transmit pathogens to their eggs in the way that ticks do. Thus, ticks stand out for their distinctive ability to pass on pathogens to their offspring, making them a key concern in public health regarding vector-borne diseases.