Which transboundary disease is listed as an example?

• A. Rabies
• B. Heartwater
• C. Brucellosis
• D. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Answer: (B)

Transboundary diseases are those that can cross borders and spread quickly, often through movement of livestock or their vectors, creating regional and trade-related risks. Heartwater fits this idea well because it is a ruminant disease caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium and is transmitted by Amblyomma ticks. Outbreaks can spread when infected animals are moved between countries or when ticks carried on animals or equipment are introduced into new areas. This vector-driven, cross-border spread makes heartwater a classic example of a transboundary disease in surveillance and reporting contexts, highlighting why cross-border notification and coordinated control are essential.

Rabies is indeed a cross-border concern, but the focus of many surveillance texts on transboundary diseases emphasizes those spread through animal movement and vectors like ticks, where heartwater serves as a clear textbook case. Brucellosis and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy are major diseases with their own public and animal health importance, but they are not as commonly highlighted as the standard example of a transboundary disease in this particular framework.