Vol II Ch. 2: Infection of populations Flashcards
Define viral pathogenesis
the sum of effects on the host from the viral replication and immune response
Severity of disease is determined by interaction of immune cells with infected cells T/F
F, The severity is determined by the interaction of all host defense systems with infected cells
Key determinants of viral disease nature and severity:
type of virus; ability of immune system to respond, qty of virions during initial infection, host immunity, overall health of host, duration of infection, nutritional status of host, host congenital factors, age of host
What is epidemiology? What is it the cornerstone of?
The study of populations and the events that effect their health. Public Health research. It provides the rationale for response and control measures
A viral epidemiologist is an expert in what?
in communicable disease
Vital factors affecting viral transmission in a population include:
social actions and group dynamics
What are some risk factors for transmission?
size of population needed for transmission, season, means of control
What are the components of epidemiology?
Mechanisms of transmission, factors that promote transmission, geography and season, risk factors, critical population size, means of control
What is the null hypothesis? What is the advantage of statistical analysis?
that the two populations are the same; statistics tell us the probability that observed differences are real.
What is the relationship between number of mice and P value?
inverse (more mice = smaller P value)
What is the difference between an experimental and control population?
One variable is present in the experimental (or not present), and besides that the two are identical
Incidence of disease or side effect is determined by a statistical study, often used for drug or vaccine trials. What type of controls are essential?
single or double blind controls, placebos
What is the primary result of epidemiology studies?
quantification of disease occurrance
Define incidence: What is it mainly used for?
number of occurrences per population and time frame; acute infections
What is disease prevalence used for? define it:
For persistent infections where onset isn’t easily determined. cases/million at a particular time
