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Diseases

Diseases are abnormal medical conditions that negatively affect either the structure or function of a part of an organism other than the immediate external injuries.

  • There are two types of diseases, viz—communicable and non-communicable diseases.
  • Infectious or communicable diseases are caused by viruses, pathogens, and other parasites that affect the host and can transmit from person to person. In contrast, non-communicable diseases might occur due to exposure to radiation, genetic inheritance, and an unhealthy lifestyle.
  • Whenever a disease-causing virus or pathogen enters the body of a host, the body shows two responses to it; clinical and immunologic. 
  • The white blood cells, mainly known for the defense against external microorganisms, attack such antigens which may result in different reactions such as fever, cold, headache, sweating, change in the rate of heartbeat, etc.
  • Plants also suffer from several diseases which are primarily caused by non-native viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. 
  • A few of such diseases that cause significant damage are a chestnut blight, butternut canker, Dogwood anthracnose, Elm yellows, etc.
  • Similarly, diseases are observed in plants and animals. Various bacteria and viruses cause diseases such as Anthrax, Black-quarter, Bluetongue, Pox. Rabies, etc. infect dogs, wolves, and foxes. 
  • The most effective and efficient way to prevent diseases is sanitation, proper nutrition, exercise, and self-care. 
  • Moreover, different forms of vaccines have been developed to prevent severe diseases like Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Rabies, Yellow fever.
  • Although diseases can be fatal to humans, animals, and plants, their scientific study is useful in other fields of study.
  • Knowledge regarding disease-causing pathogens and bacteria helps microbiologists understand the nature and characteristics of various microorganisms.
  • Scientific diagnosis of parasites encourages people to take preventive measures for themselves and other animals.
  • Diseases have been an essential topic of research and findings in food microbiology as food and water are primary modes of transmission of many infectious diseases.

Infection is the invasion and multiplication of the body tissue of an organism by pathogenic agents like bacteria and viruses.

  • Infection is often used as a synonym for disease even though the two are quite different. Infection is the entry of an agent into the body while a disease is the changes occurring in the body as a result of that entry.
  • All infections are caused by infectious agents which can be either bacteria, virus, fungi, or a parasite.
  • Infection is communicable that transmits due to the transmission of the infectious agent by different modes of transmission.
  • Depending on the infectious agent, infections are of four types; viral infection, bacterial infection, fungal infection, and parasitic infection.
  • Infections might not result in particular symptoms like diseases, as most infections tend to be subclinical.
  • Infections might be localized where the infectious agent only infects a particular organ or tissue or can be systemic where the agent reaches different parts of the body via blood or lymph to infect different organs and tissues.
  • Microorganisms that belong to the normal flora of an organism are not considered infectious agents unless they reach the sterile parts of the body to initiate some form of infection.
  • The pathophysiology of infections differs from one agent to another, but the general pattern of infections flows a similar trajectory; entry, colonization, disease, and transmission.
  • Symptoms of infections are also different depending on the type of infection, but some common symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, coughing, and sneezing.
  • The diagnosis of infection is based on the identification of the infectious agent via different diagnostic processes.
  • Some infections might show symptoms that allow for the symptomatic diagnosis, yet it usually needs further confirmation.
  • Infections are directly dependent on the infectious agent and the immune response of the host against the said agent.

Zoonotic Diseases: Classification, Causes, Prevention, Control

June 17, 2025June 15, 2025 by Rashal Shakya
Zoonotic Diseases

Zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses, are infections that can be transmitted from animals (vertebrates) to humans or vice versa. Classification of Zoonotic Diseases Zoonotic pathogens are classified based on their etiology … Read more

Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV): Causes, Symptoms, Disease Cycle

April 26, 2025April 12, 2025 by Nirmita Sharma
Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)

Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) is one of the most economically important plant viruses, infecting more than 1,200 species in more than a hundred plant families. It has been isolated causing … Read more

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV): Structure, Symptoms, Diseases

April 4, 2025April 1, 2025 by Nirmita Sharma
Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV)

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus is one of the worst plant pathogens and impacts more than 1,000 different species, some of which include major food crops like tomato, pepper, peanut, potato, … Read more

Neglected Tropical Diseases: An Overview with Examples

March 30, 2025March 27, 2025 by Dr Swadha
Neglected Tropical Diseases

Neglected tropical diseases are a wide variety of deadly diseases in tropical and sub-tropical regions that affect over 1 billion people globally. Regarding the definition of NTDs, there is no … Read more

Standard Precautions (Infection Control) in Healthcare

March 12, 2025March 12, 2025 by Dr Swadha
Standard Precautions (Infection Control) in Healthcare

Standard precautions are a set of infection control practices to be used by all staff, in all healthcare settings, at all times, for all patients whether infection is known to … Read more

Bacterial Spot in Tomatoes and Peppers

April 4, 2025January 1, 2025 by Nirmita Sharma
Bacterial spot of tomato and peppers

Bacterial spot is one of the serious bacterial diseases resulting in significant economic losses around the world. It is more prevalent in Tropical and Subtropical regions with warm temperatures and … Read more

Soybean Cyst Nematode: Causes, Cycle & Control Strategies

April 4, 2025December 25, 2024 by Nirmita Sharma
Soybean Cyst Nematode

Soybean Cyst Nematode is a disease caused by a nematode first identified in Japan in 1915 and first reported in the United States in 1954. The disease is most likely … Read more

Root-Knot Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Control Methods

April 4, 2025December 24, 2024 by Nirmita Sharma
Root-knot Disease

Root-knot disease is a widespread and destructive plant disease caused by a nematode. It is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and is characterized by the formation of large galls … Read more

Fire Blight Disease: Symptoms, Causes & Effective Control

April 4, 2025December 23, 2024 by Nirmita Sharma
Fire Blight Disease

Fire blight is a highly infectious bacterial disease that usually affects the members of the Rosaceae family, especially apples, pears, quince, and other ornamental plants. The disease is characterized by … Read more

Verticillium Wilt: Causes, Symptoms, Disease Cycle, Control

April 4, 2025December 18, 2024 by Nirmita Sharma
Verticillium Wilt

Verticillium wilt is a destructive plant disease affecting over 300 plant species and causes major yield losses. The host plants include trees, shrubs, field crops, vegetables, ornamental plants, and weeds. … Read more

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