Pathogenic Microorganisms Flashcards
Describe the meaning of an ‘infectious agent’, in relation to viral disease
An agent that causes infection or an infectious disease
What is another name for an ‘infectious agent’?
a Pathogen
Pathogen = potential to cause disease
Describe what is meant by the ‘mode of transmission’
How an infectious agent can be transferred from one person, object, or animal, to another
Describe what a ‘reservoir’ is + give an example of one.
List 6 examples of the potential different types of reservoir.
A non-susceptible host organism which can harbor and distribute an infectious agent to other organisms.
Example: Bats harbor several virulent viruses (like Ebola) but they do not make them sick.
Examples:
1. Person
2. Animal
3. Objects
4. Environment
5. Food
6. Water
Define what is meant by the term ‘portal of entry’
Any route that a pathogen uses to enter the body (host)
Describe what is meant by a ‘susceptible host’
A animal, human or other - that have the intrinsic + extrinsic factors, which makes them suspectable to that pathogenic organism
Explain the difference between a host and a reservoir?
A reservoir is a non-susceptible host organism which can harbor and distribute an infectious agent to other organisms.
Whereas..
A host can also harbor an infectious disease, but may or may not harmed by the infected host.
A host also has the potential to:
- Be used as a nutrient source for the developing pathogenic microorganism
- Becomes hijacked by pathogen
- Become ill + potentially infectious
- Transmits the pathogen to another host
Define the meaning of ‘portal of exit’, in relation to viral disease
Any route that a pathogen uses to exits the body (reservoir/host)
What is the acronym for Feline Leukaemia Virus?
FeLV
What type of pathogenic organism is FeLV?
Virus
What is the infectious agent for FeLV?
Also known as the ‘Retrovirus’..
Feline Leukaemia Virus
(Retrovirus)
What is the resevoir for FeLV?
Felines
What is the mode of transmission for FeLV?
- Transplacental transmission
- Rare - direct contact with bodily fluids of infected felines
What is the portal of entry for FeLV?
- Bite wounds
- Food/water - this is rare
Who are the susceptible hosts for FeLV?
Felines
What is the portal of exit for FeLV?
Bodily fluids of infected felines:
* Saliva
* Urine
* Faeces
* Milk
What is the effect of FeLV on the host?
Infections of the:
* Skin
* Bladder
* Upper respiratory tract
Progressive weight loss
Persistant pyrexia
Pale gums + mm’s
Enlarged lymph nodes
What is the acronym for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius?
MRSP
What is the infectious agent for MRSP?
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius
What type of pathogenic organism is MRSP?
Bacteria - superbug
What are the 2 other terms used to define a ‘superbug’?
Nosocomial infection
or
HAI (Hospital Aquired Infection)
What are the 3 resevoirs for MRSP?
- Canines
- Felines
- Humans
What is the mode of transmission for MRSP?
Direct contact with contaminated:
* Respiratory systems
* Fomites
* Surfaces
What is the portal of entry for MRSP?
- Wound sites
- Contaminated urine
- IV Catheters
Who are the susceptible hosts for MRSP?
- Canines
- Felines
- Humans (less common)
Zoonotic!
What is the portal of exit for MRSP?
- Respiratory secretions
+ - aerosolised particles
What is the effect of MRSP on the host?
Infections of the:
* Skin
* Ear
* Wound + surgical sites infections
* Respiratory infections
What is the acronym for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus?
MRSA
What type of pathogenic organism is MRSA?
Bacteria - superbug/HAI
What is the infectious agent for MRSA?
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
What is the resevoir for MRSA?
Human
What is the mode of transmission for MRSA?
Direct contact:
* Open sores + wounds
* Contaminated surfaces
What is the portal of entry for MRSA?
- Open wounds
- Surgical Incisions
- Sores
- Urinary tract
- IV catheters
Who are the susceptible hosts for MRSA?
- Humans
- Elderly
- Young
- Old
- Immunocomprimised
Zoonotic!
What is the portal of exit for MRSA?
Open sores + wounds
What is the effect of MRSA on the host?
- Skin infections
leading to > respiratory + urinary infections
What is the acronym for Feline Calcivirus?
Also known as the ‘Feline Respiratory Disease’…
FCV
What type of pathogenic organism is FCV?
Virus
What is the infectious agent for FCV?
Feline Calcivirus
(by Caliciviridae)
What is the resevoir for FCV?
Felines
What is the mode of transmission for FCV?
- Virus can survive, as aerolised particles, within the environment for a week
- Direct contact with infected felines
- In-direct contact with contaminated fomites + surfaces
What is the portal of entry for FCV?
Inhalation
(Via respiratory tract)
Who are the susceptible hosts for FCV?
Felines
What is the portal of exit for FCV?
- Respiratory secretions
- Aerosolied particles, from the environment
What is the effect of FCV on the host?
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Nasal Congestion
- Ulcers (on tongue + gums)
What is the acronym for Bordetella Bronchiseptica?
Kennel Cough!
(KC)
What type of pathogenic organism is Bordetella Bronchiseptica?
Bacteria - gram-negative coccobacillus
What is the infectious agent for Kennel Cough?
Bordetella Bronchiseptica:
* B Pertussis
* B parapertussius
What are the 3 resevoirs for KC?
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rabbits
What is the mode of transmission for KC?
Direct contact:
* Dogs touching noses
Indirect contact:
* Droplets
* Areosolised particles from sneezing + coughing
What is the portal of entry for KC?
Inhaled
(Into the respiratory tract + into the body)
Who are the susceptible hosts for KC?
- Canines
- Felines
- Rabbits
What is the portal of exit for KC?
Via respiratory tract
+
respiratory secretions
What is the effect of KC on the host?
- Hacking cough
- Sneezing
- Forthy white phelgm
- Coughing sounds like something is stuck in the throat
- Difficulty breathing
What is the acronym for Canine Herpes Virus?
CHV
What type of pathogenic organism is CHV?
Virus (enveloped)
What is the infectious agent for CHV?
Canine Herpes Virus
What is the resevoir for CHV?
Canines
What is the mode of transmission for CHV?
Direct contact:
Bodily fluids of a contaminated animal
What is the portal of entry for CHV?
Ingestion
via
mucous membranes
Who are the susceptible hosts for CHV?
Dogs
What is the portal of exit for CHV?
Bodily fluids
+
Transplacental
What is the effect of CHV on the host?
- Ocular + nasal discharge + inflammation
- Gential sores
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Vaginal + penile discharge
What is the acronym for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus?
Also known as the ‘Lentivirus’..
FIV
What type of pathogenic organism is FIV?
Virus
What is the infectious agent for FIV?
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
(Lentivirus)
What is the resevoir for FIV?
Felines
What is the mode of transmission for FIV?
Direct transmission:
bites
Bodily fluids from
What is the portal of entry for FIV?
Bites + bite wounds
(from Infected felines)
Who are the susceptible hosts for FIV?
Felines
What is the portal of exit for FIV?
Saliva
(of Infected felines)
What is the effect of FeLV on the host?
- Reduces immune response to other infections
- Gingivitis
- Emaciation/Cachexia (Weight loss)
- Anorexia
- Pyrexia
- Swollen lymph nodes
- V+
- D+