Disease Reservoirs and Transmission Flashcards
Disease transmission is a result of what?
interaction between the host, agent, and environment. It can be multiple agents, hosts, or environments.
Can you get different outcomes if it is the same host and agent?
Yes because every exposure is unique.
What was John Snow’s role in the cholera outbreak?
He mapped out who was sick and where and found out the cholera was transmitted by the oral-fecal route and by the water supply.
Who first isolated B. anthracis?
Roberth Koch. He proved the bacterium caused anthrax by infecting naive animals.
Who is typhoid Mary?
Irish immigrant cook who had typhoid outbreaks following her wherever she went.
Who discovered that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes?
Ronald Ross.
Who discovered that yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes?
Walter Reed.
Who rid Havana and the Panama Canal from Yellow fever?
William Gorgas
In disease transmission, what is (generally) the most important thing to know?
the mode of transmission.
What is a reservoir?
habitat in which an infectious agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies. Doesn’t have to be an animal or person.
What are the 3 main requirements to be considered a reservoir?
- naturally infected with the pathogen.
- maintains the pathogen over time
- this source can transmit the disease to a new, susceptible host.
What makes reservoirs elusive?
They don’t always show clinical signs, cant prove persistence of infection, and transmission can be sporadic.
T/F: all sick animals are reservoirs
False. Some can be carriers.
What is vertical transmission?
from a reservoir host to its offspring. Can be congenital (crossing the placenta, infecting eggs) or perinatal (during parturition, via colostrum).
What is horizontal transmission?
from the reservoir to a new host. Can be direct or indirect.
