What is the process called when an insect carries a pathogen from the source and deposits it on a potential host?

The process where an insect carries a pathogen from one source and deposits it onto a potential host is referred to as mechanical transmission. This occurs when the insect acts merely as a carrier, picking up pathogens from one environment and transferring them to another without the pathogen undergoing any developmental changes within the insect. An example of mechanical transmission can be seen with flies, which can land on contaminated food and then deposit those pathogens onto the food, leading to potential illness in individuals who consume it.

Other terms in the options refer to different processes that do not accurately describe this particular method of transmission. Vector activation suggests an engaging process of the vector leading to enhanced transmission, which doesn't apply to the simple depositing of pathogens. Pathogen transfer is a broad term that could encompass various modes of transmission but doesn't specifically capture the action of an insect as a passive carrier. Host infection indicates the point where the pathogen actively invades and begins to replicate within the host, which is a subsequent step following transmission. Thus, mechanical transmission accurately describes the role of the insect as a passive carrier in the pathogen’s journey to a host.