M4, C12 Communicable Diseases Flashcards
what are the main pathogens and give examples of diseases they cause
bacteria – tuberculosis (TB), bacterial meningitis, ring rot (potatoes, tomatoes)
virus – HIV/AIDS (human), influenza (animals), Tobacco Mosaic Virus (plants)
protoctista – malaria, potato/tomato late blight,
fungi – black sigatoka (bananas), ring worm (cattle), athlete’s foot (humans).
Define
a) communicable disease
b) pathogen
c) vectors
Communicable disease – can be passed from one organism to another
Pathogen – disease causing micro-organism
Vectors – carry pathogens from one organism to another (water/insects)
why are plant diseases such a concern for humans
Plants provide food-people may starve
Plants provide building materials
Plants provide medicines
Plants are the start of all food chains-without them, the food chain is disrupted and the whole ecosystem suffers
what is ringrot?
bacteria - gram positive bacterium
damages leaves, tubers and fruits
no cure
what is tabacco mosaic virus
virus
damages leaves, flowers and fruit
resistant crop chains are available but no cure
what is potato blight
protoctist
destroy leaves, tubers and fruits
no cure but resistant strains, careful management and chemical treatments can reduce infection risk
what is black sigatoka
a banana disease caused by fungi
attacks and destroys leaves and turns them black
resistant strains are being developed - good husbandry and fungicide treatment can control the spread of disease but there is no cure
what is TB? who gets it? what does it damage is there a cure? caused by?
Bacterial disease
Humans, cows, pigs, badgers and deer get it
Caused by mycobacterium TB and M.Bovis
Damages and destroys lung tissue and slows the immune system
Cured by antibiotics which are taken for 6 months
Prevented by vaccination
Symptoms include high temp, tiredness, loss of appetite, coughing, swelling, weight loss and sweating
what is bacterial meningitis? who gets it? what does it damage is there a cure? caused by?
Bacterial infection fo the meninges of the brain (membranes on the surface)
Can spread to rest of body causing blood poisoning and rapid death
Affects young children and teens 15-19
Causes a blotchy red/purple rash
Symptoms include fever, drowsiness, rapid breathing and stiff neck
what is HIV/AIDS? who gets it? what does it damage is there a cure? caused by?
Human immunodeficiency virus
Targets T helper cells in the immune system
Gradually destroys immune system so you are open to other infection
Affects humans and primates
Passed on through bodily fluids - sex, needles, blood or breast milk
No vaccine or no cure
Anti-retroviral drugs slow the progress of the disease
Females in Africa are at a high risk because of female genital mutilation
Contains the enzyme transcriptase which transcribes RNA to DNA in the host cell
Malaria: what causes it? how does a mosquito become infected? how does a human become infected? what does it do inside humans? cure?
Caused by protoctista called Plasmodium
Enters a mosquito when it eats on something that is already infected. The plasmodium reproduces in the mosquito and goes to the salivary glands.
When a mosquito bites a human the plasmodium enters the bloodstream.
It invades the red blood cells, liver and brain.
No cure or vaccine so you have to control the vector by mosquito nets
Influenza: who gets it? what does it damage is there a cure? caused by?
Viral infection of the ciliated epithelial cells
Affects mammals
Leaves airways open to infection
Fatal for young children, elderly or people with chronic illnesses
3 strains
They mutate regularly so no cure but there is a vaccine
Give details about ring worm
Fungal disease affecting mammals
Different fungi for different species
Causes grey-white, crusty, infectious, circular areas of skin
Anti fungal creams are a cure
Give details about athlete’s foot
Fungal disease caused by Tinia pedia
Form of ringworm that grows on and digests warm, moist skin between toes
Causes cracking and scaling which is itchy and sore
Anti fungal creams - cure
what are examples of direct transmission between animals
Direct contact
-Kissing/contact with body fluids (bacterial meningitis/STDs)
-Skin to skin (ring worm/athletes foot)
-Microorganism from faeces on the hands (diarrhoeal disease)
Inoculation
-Through a break in the skin ie during sex
-Animal bite (rabies)
-Puncture wound/sharing needles (septicaemia)
Ingestion
-Contaminated food/drink or transferring pathogens from hands to mouth
what are examples of indirect transmission between animals
Fomites
-Inanimate objects e.g. bedding, socks, cosmetics (athletes foot, gangrene, staphylococcus infections)
Droplet infection (inhalation)
-Droplets of saliva and mucus – talking, coughing, sneezing (Flu, TB)
Vectors
-Transmit pathogens from one host to another, normally animals (mosquitoes – malaria, rat fleas = bubonic plague)
-Water (diarrhoeal disease)
what increases the risk of catching a disease in animals
- Overcrowded working and living conditions
- Poor nutrition
- Compromised immune system (HIV)
- Poor sanitation
- Breeding sites for vectors
- Climate change – introduce new vectors/disease
- Cultural beliefs – traditional medicine
- Socioeconomic factors – lack of doctors/nurses/public warnings
How does disease directly transmit in plants
Direct contact of the healthy plant against any part of the diseased plant = ring rot, TMV, black sigatoka
How does disease indirectly transmit in plants
Soil contamination -Infected plants leave pathogens or reproductive spores in soil Vectors -Wind -Water -Animals -Humans
what increases the risk of catching a disease in plants
- Planting varieties of crops susceptible to disease
- Overcrowding
- Poor mineral nutrition reduces resistance
- Damp, warm conditions increase survival of pathogens
- Climate change – increased rainfall + wind, promote the spread
what is callose
a polysaccharide
made of beta glucose with 1-3 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds
a physical defence a plant uses
what does callose do and how does this help a plant defend itself
Callose deposited between the cell walls and cell membrane in cells beside infected ones
-Acts as a barrier preventing pathogens entering cells around infection site
Callose builds up and blocks sieve plates in the phloem
-Seals off infected part of plant and prevents spread of pathogens in the phloem
Callose deposited in plasmodesmata between infected cells and healthy neighbouring cells
-Seals off infected cells to prevent spread of pathogen
what are examples of chemical defences in plants
insect repellents
insecticides - act as insect neurotoxins
antibacterial compounds - break down bacterial cell walls
antifungal compounds - interfere with fungal cell membranes
anti-oomycetes - break down glucans
general toxins - cyanide which is toxic for pathogens
what are the two lines of defence in mammals
The primary non-specific defence (always present/activated rapidly)
The specific immune response (specific to each pathogen)
how does skin keep pathogens out
prevents entry, has skin flora (healthy microorganisms that outcompete pathogens, produces sebum (inhibits growth)
how does mucus membrane keep pathogens out
secrete sticky mucus, traps pathogens (contains phagocytes), contains lysozyme (destroys cell walls)
how does tears and urine keep pathogens out
contains lysosomes