4.1 pathogens and communicable diseases Flashcards
what is a disease?
a disease is a condition that impairs the normal functioning of an organism
which organisms can get diseases?
plants and animals can get diseases
what is a communicable disease?
a communicable disease is a disease that spreads between organisms
what is a pathogen?
a pathogen is a disease-causing organism
what examples of pathogens?
pathogens include bacteria, fungi, protoctista and viruses
what diseases are caused by bacteria?
tuberculosis, bacterial meningitis and ring rot in plants are caused by bacteria
what organisms does tuberculosis affect?
tuberculosis (TB) affects animals, mainly humans and cattles
what is tuberculosis?
tuberculosis is a disease that affects many parts of the body, killing the cells and tissues?
what does tuberculosis mainly affect?
tuberculosis mainly affects the lungs
what is bacterial meningitis?
bacterial meningitis is a disease that affects the meninges
what is the meninges?
the meninges is the membrane that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord
which organism does bacterial meningitis affect?
bacterial meningitis affects humans
what are ring rots in plants?
ring rots are a ring of decay in the vascular tissue of a potato tuber or tomato, accompanied by leaf wilting
what organisms do ring rots affect?
ring rot affects potatos and tomatoes
what diseases are caused by viruses?
HIV/AIDS, influenza and tobacco mosaic virus are caused by viruses
what are HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS are diseases that attack cells in the immune system and compromises the immune response
what organism does HIV/AIDS affect?
HIV/AIDS affects humans
what is influenza?
influenza is a disease which attacks the respiratory system and causes muscle pains and headaches
what organisms does influenza affect?
influenza affects animals, including humans
what is the tobacco mosaic virus?
the tobacco mosaic virus is a disease which causes mottling and the discolouration of leaves
which organisms does the tobacco mosaic virus affect?
the tobacco mosaic virus affects plants
what diseases are caused by fungi?
black sigatoka, ring worms and athlete’s foot are caused by fungi
what is black sigatoka?
black sigatoka is a disease that causes leaf spots on banana plants reducing yield
what organism does black sigatoka affect?
black sigatoka affects banana plants
what organisms do ringworms affect?
ringworms affect cattle
what is athlete’s foot?
athlete’s foot is the growth of fungi under the skin of feet - particularly between toes
what organism does athlete’s foot affect?
athlete’s foot affects humans
what diseases are caused by protoctists?
potato/tomato late blight and malaria are caused by protoctists
what is late blight?
late blight is a disease that affects both leaves and potato tubers
what organisms does late blight affect?
late blight affects potatoes and tomatoes
what is malaria?
malaria is a parasite in the blood that causes headache and fever and may progress to coma and death
what organisms does malaria affect?
malaria affects animals, including humans
what are the ways that communicable diseases can be transmitted?
communicable diseases can be transmitted directly or indirectly
what is direct transmissions?
direct transmission is when a disease is transmitted directly from one organism to another
what are the ways that direct transmission can happen?
direct transmission can happen in several ways including:
- droplet infection (coughing or sneezing)
- sexual intercourse
- touching an infected organism
what diseases are directly transmitted?
HIV and athlete’s foot are directly transmitted
what is indirect transmissin?
indirect transmission is where a disease is transmitted indirectly from one organism to another via an intermediate
what are examples of intermediates?
intermediates include:
- air
- water
- food
- another organism (also known as a vector)
what diseases are indirectly transmitted?
potato / tomato late blight and malaria are indirectly transmitted
what factors affect disease transmission?
living conditions, climate and social factors can affect disease transmission
what living conditions can increase the transmission of communicable diseases?
overcrowded living conditions can increase the transmission of communicable diseases
