Infectious Disease Flashcards
define infectious disease
disease that is able to be passed from one person, animal or plant to another
define zoonosis (zoonotic disease)
disease that can be passed from humans to animals
give an example of a zoonotic disease
leptosporosis
define reverse zoonosis
a disease that can be passed from humans to animals
what is a community acquired disease?
a disease that is acquired within the community
what is a hospital acquired / nosocomial disease?
disease acquired in hospital
what is a pathogen?
disease causing organism
what are commensals?
organism that inhabits a specific mucosal surface in the body and is a normal finding
what type of organisms are bacteria?
single celled
why are bacterial cells prokaryotic?
have no nucleus
how do bacteria reproduce?
binary fission
describe how binary fission works
adult cell splits into two identical daughter cells
what are the 3 main bacteria shapes/morphology?
coccoid (spherical)
bacillus (rods)
spiral
what is an example of a coccoid bacteria?
Staphylococcus
what is an example of a bacillus bacteria?
Escherichia coli
what is an example of spiral bacteria?
Leptosporosis
as well as morphology how do bacteria vary?
staining and cellular characteristic
what are the 2 ways bacterial infections are diagnosed?
organism detection
demonstration of antibody (for some)
how can bacteria be detected?
microscopy and/or culture
what size are viruses?
sub-microscopic
what is required by a virus in order to replicate?
host cell
why does viral invasion usually result in cell death?
as cell is taken over by virus and becomes factory for virus
what are the virus morphologies?
diverse
what are 2 examples of veterinary viruses?
parvovirus (dogs)
feline herpes virus (cats)
how are viruses diagnosed?
demonstration of virus (antigen or DNA)
demonstration of antibody
how should viral infections be treated?
antivirals when available
supportive treatment
how should pathogenic viruses be treated?
antibiotics
what type of organisms are fungi usually?
multicellular eukaryotic
what does heterotrophic mean in terms of fungi?
cannot make their own food so rely on host
what type of reproduction do fungi use?
sexual and asexual
when do fungi typically cause infections in veterinary patients in the UK?
in the presence of immunocompromise
how are fungal infections diagnosed?
organism identification
demonstration of antibody (for some)
how can fungal organisms be identified?
microscopy
fungal culture
antigens
DNA
how are fungal infections treated?
prolonged antifungals
what are the 3 main parasite types?
helminths (worms)
protozoa
ectoparasites
what type of reproduction are parasites capable of?
sexual and asexual
what type of organisms are parasites?
eukaryotic multicelled
what does host adapted mean in parasites?
cause disease in specific host
where do parasites infect?
frequently organ specific
some are multi systemic
what does the parasite depend on the host for?
survival - mainly through food
how are parasites diagnosed?
identification of organism
how can parasites be identified?
microscopy
gross visualisation
antigens
DNA
how are parasites treated?
specific antiparasitic to parasite
what type of organisms are protozoa?
single celled eukaryotic
what types of sexual reproduction are protozoa capable of?
sexual and asexual
what do most veterinary pathogenic protozoa cause?
GI or multi-systemic disease
what is an example of GI pathogenic protozoa?
Giardia
what is an example of multi-systemic pathogenic protozoa?
toxoplasma
what are the 2 forms of protozoa?
cyst (dormant) and trophozoite (active)
how are protozoa diagnosed?
organism detection
demonstration of antibody (for some)
how can protozoa be detected?
microscopy
antigen
DNA
how are protozoa treated?
anti-protozoals
some antibiotics
how can infection be spread between animals?
poor staff/owner hand hygiene ectoparasites phomites grooming/fighting and so spread of bodily fluids blood products from unscreened donors aerosol urine/faeces
