Agents of disease

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What is an agent of disease?

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An agent of disease is a factor that causes illness or disease in a host. This can include pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

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What are the main types of pathogens?

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The main types of pathogens are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

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What is a parasite?

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A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food at the expense of its host.

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What disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei?

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African sleeping sickness.

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What is a virus?

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A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism.

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What is an epidemic?

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An epidemic is a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a specific area.

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What is a pandemic?

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A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over multiple countries or continents, affecting a large number of people.

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What is Lyme disease?

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Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected deer ticks.

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What role do fleas play in the spread of the Black Plague?

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Fleas carried the bacteria Yersinia pestis, which caused the Black Plague, and transmitted it to humans through bites.

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What is the primary vector for malaria?

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The primary vector for malaria is the Anopheles mosquito.