Communicable diseases Flashcards
Can you explain the definition of a vector?
- A vector carries pathogens from one organism to another.
Can you explain the modes of action of different pathogens?
- Viruses take over the cell metabolism. Viral genetic material gets into host cell and is inserted into host DNA.
- Some protoctista take over cells as well and break them open as the new generation emerge. They don’t take over the genetic material of the host cell. They however, digest and use cell contents as they reproduce. An example of this would be malaria.
- Fungi digest living cells and destroy them. Combines with the response of the body combined with the response of the body to damaged cause by fungus gives disease.
- Bacteria and fungi produce toxins that might damage host cells by breaking down cell membranes, some damage or inactivate enzymes and can interfere with host cell genetic material so cells cannot divide.
What pathogen causes ring rot?
- Gram positive bacteria called ‘Claver bactermichiganensis’
What pathogen cause potato-blight?
- The fungus-like protoctist called ‘Phytophthora infestans’
What pathogen causes black sigatoka?
- A fungus called ‘Mycosphaerella fijiensis’
What pathogen causes TB?
- Bacteria called ‘Mycobacterium tubercolosis’ and ‘M.bovis’.
What pathogen causes bacterial meningitis?
- A bacteria called ‘Streptococcus pneumoniae’
What pathogen causes Influenza (flu)?
- A virus called ‘orthomyxoviridae’
What pathogen causes malaria?
- Caused by the parasite ‘Plasmodium’ that’s spread by bites of Anapheles mosquito
What pathogen causes Ring-worm?
- Caused by fungus called ‘Tricophyton verrucosum’.
What pathogen causes Athlete’s foot?
- Caused by fungus called ‘Tinia pedia’.
Can you explain the forms of direct transmission? : ANIMALS
CHALLENGE: give examples of illnesses that are tied with these
- Direct - HIV, Ring worm, diarrhoeal diseases
- Inoculation - Rabies, septicaemia
- Ingestion - Amoebic dysentery
Can you explain forms of Indirect transmission? - ANIMALS
CHALLENGE: Give examples of illnesses tied with these
- Fomites - Athlete’s foot
- Droplet infection - Tubercolosis (TB)
- Vectors - Malaria
Can you explain forms of direct transmission? : PLANTS
CHALLENGE: Give examples of illnesses tied with this
- Soil contamination - ring rot spores contaminate soil and live long after plants are removed, new plants planted in soil become infected by this bacterial disease.
Can you explain forms of indirect transmission? : PLANTS
CHALLENGE: Can you give examples of illness tied with this.
- Water allows spores to ‘swim’ on it’s surface for example potato blight
- Wind carries fungal spores - black sigatoka
- Animals carry pathogens and spores - aphids inoculate the pathogen directly into plant tissues, are an invasive species as well because of this
- Humans (farmers mostly) transmit spores/pathogens with hands and clothing - TMV survives for years in tobacco products and ring rot can survive on potato sacks.