Communicable Disease Flashcards
What is a pathogen?
A microorganism that enters the body and causes disease
Bacteria:
Very small cells which can reproduce rapidly due to binary fission
How does bacteria make you feel ill?
They produce toxins that damage cells and tissues and make you feel ill
Which are smaller, viruses or bacteria?
Viruses
How do viruses make you feel ill?
Viruses live inside cells and produce many copies of itself using the cell’s machinery. Eventually the cell will burst releasing all the new viruses.
Cell damage is what makes you feel ill
What are protists?
- eukaryotes
- some are parasites (use organisms as their host -> live on or in them) which causes damage
- often transferred by a vector
What is a vector?
A living organism that transmits a parasite from an infected animal to a human or another animal
How can pathogens be spread?
- through water (drinking or coming into contact with dirty water can pick up pathogens)
- direct contact (touching contaminated surfaces e.g. kissing, skin to skin, bodily fluids)
- air (pathogens can be carried in the air and then breathed in. Some airborne pathogens are carried in air in droplets when you cough or sneeze)
What type of disease is measles?
A viral disease
How is measles spread?
Droplets from an infected persons sneeze or cough
What are the symptoms of measles?
Fever
Red skin rash
Can lead to more serious problems e.g. pneumonia and blindness
How is measles prevented?
Most people are vaccinated when they are young
What type of disease is HIV?
A virus
How is HIV spread?
Sexual contact or exchange of bodily fluids like blood
What are the symptoms of HIV?
Initially flu-like symptoms but then after a few years the virus attacks the immune system and leads to aids (making the body more susceptible ti many diseases)
How is HIV prevented?
Preventing the spread -> condoms, not sharing needles, screening blood in transfusions
Preventing the development of aids -> use of antiretroviral drugs (stops virus replicating in the blood)
What type of disease is tobacco mosaic virus? 🤔🤔
Virus disease affecting many species of plant
How is tobacco mosaic virus spread?
Contact between diseased plants and healthy plants
What are symptoms of tobacco mosaic virus?
Discolouration of leaves meaning leaf can’t carry out photosynthesis as well so virus affects growth of plant
How is tobacco mosaic virus prevented?
Good field hygiene
Pest control
Growing TMV resistant strains
What type of disease is rose black spot?
A fungus
How is rose black spot spread?
Through the environment in the water or wind
What are the symptoms of rose black spot?
- Purple or black spots on leaves of rose plants
- leaves turn yellow and drop early
- reduces area of the leaf available for photosynthesis
How is rose black spot prevented?
Stripping the plant of effected leaves (need to be burnt/destroyed so the fungus can’t spread)
What type of disease is malaria?
Caused by a protist pathogens that enter the red blood cells and damage them