Select the term that best describes the movement of pathogens through surfaces contaminated by an infected animal's waste.

The term that best describes the movement of pathogens through surfaces contaminated by an infected animal's waste is fomite transmission. Fomites are inanimate objects or surfaces that can carry infectious agents. When an object, such as a surface, becomes contaminated with pathogens from animal feces or urine, those pathogens can survive on that surface for varying periods, depending on the type of pathogen and environmental conditions.

When other animals or humans come into contact with these contaminated surfaces, they can unwittingly transfer the pathogens to themselves through hand-to-mouth contact, skin abrasions, or other means. This highlights the importance of sanitation and hygiene in preventing the spread of disease, especially in environments where animals are present.

Other transmission options, while relevant in different contexts, do not pertain specifically to the scenario of contaminated surfaces. Vector transmission involves living organisms, like insects, facilitating the spread of pathogens, while airborne transmission relates to pathogens moving through the air, and direct contact transmission refers to the transfer of pathogens through physical contact with an infected animal or person. Fomite transmission precisely captures the essence of how pathogens can be transmitted via contaminated surfaces.