Topic 3 Infection and Response Flashcards
What is a communicable disease?
A disease caused by a pathogen which can be passed between animals or plants eg. flu.
What is a pathogen?
A disease-causing microorganism e.g.
bacteria.
How do bacteria cause disease?
Once inside the body, they divide rapidly by binary fission. They kill cells and produce harmful toxins.
How do viruses cause disease?
They invade and reproduce inside living body cells, leading to cell damage.
Give three ways in which pathogens can be
spread
● By air - flu, tuberculosis and the common cold are
spread by droplet infection.
● By water - fungal spores in water spread plant
diseases.
● By direct contact - common in plant diseases and
sexually transmitted infections.
Give four ways in which the spread of
pathogens can be reduced
● Hygiene - handwashing, disinfectants, tissues.
● Reducing contact with infected individuals -
quarantine.
● Removing vectors - use of pesticides and
insecticides, removal of habitats.
● Vaccination.
Why is it especially important to prevent the
spread of viral diseases?
Scientists have not yet developed cures for
many viral diseases.
What is measles?
Measles is a serious viral disease that can cause blindness and brain damage. The main symptoms are a fever and a red skin
rash.
How is measles spread?
By air - through the inhalation of droplets
from coughs and sneezes.
What is HIV/AIDS?
HIV is a virus which attacks and damages the immune system until it can no longer function properly. AIDS is the condition resulting from a long-term HIV infection. There is no cure or
vaccine for HIV/AIDS.
How is HIV spread?
Direct sexual contact and the exchange of bodily fluids eg. blood, breastmilk.
How can the spread of HIV/AIDS be prevented?
●Use of condoms
● Screening of blood for transfusions
●Not sharing needles
● Bottle-feeding by HIV-positive mothers
●Use of antiretroviral drugs to prevent the
development of AIDS
What is tobacco mosaic virus?
A plant pathogen which causes leaf discolouration when cells are damaged. Affected areas cannot photosynthesise, reducing the crop yield. As there is no treatment, farmers grow TMV-resistant crop strains to avoid infection.
How is tobacco mosaic virus spread?
Contact between infected and healthy plants. Insects may act as vectors which transfer the virus between different plants.
What is salmonella?
A type of bacteria found in raw meat, poultry and eggs. If they enter the body via food poisoning, they can affect natural gut
bacteria.
What are the symptoms of salmonella food
poisoning?
● Fever
● Abdominal cramping
● Vomiting
● Diarrhoea
May be fatal in very young or elderly populations due the
risk of dehydration.
How can the spread of salmonella be limited?
● Vaccinating animals intended for consumption
● Keep raw meat away from cooked meat
●Disinfect hands and surfaces after contact with
raw meat
● Thoroughly cook meat
What is gonorrhoea?
A sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by unprotected sex with an infected individual. Early symptoms include yellow/green discharge from genitals and painful urination, although it may be symptomless. Its spread can be controlled through the use of antibiotics (no longer penicillin as many strains are resistant) and using condoms.
What is rose black spot?
A fungal disease which causes purple or black spots to develop on rose leaves. It reduces the area of the leaf which is available for
photosynthesis and causes leaves to turn yellow and drop prematurely.