A disease is a condition in which the health of an organism is damaged.

There are four main types:

Pathogenic
Deficiency
Hereditary
Physiological

Type of Disease

Definition

Example

Pathogenic

Pathogenic diseases caused

Ringworm, influenza, polio,

by parasitic organisms

measles, thrush

which cause disease in its

host.
Deficiency

A disease caused by the

Rickets, kwashiorkor, Beri

shortage or lack of a

beri, anemia. kwashiorkor

particular nutrient in the

diet.
Hereditary

A disease that is passed on

Sickle cell, hemophilia,

from one generation to the

cystic fibrosis

next by genes. They cannot

be cured
Physiological

These are diseases caused

Hypertension, Diabetes

by the malfunctioning of a
body organ.

Characteristics and Treatments of Each Disease Group

Type of
Disease

General
Causes

General
Characteristi
cs

Type of
Treatment

Control and
Prevention

Pathogenic

Caused by

Viruses inhibit

Drugs and

Suffering

Disease

other

cellular activity

ointments to

individuals

organisms, (e.g.

and destroy cell

kill pathogens,

should be

viruses,

structure.

e.g. antibiotics

isolated and

bacteria, fungi,

Bacteria

against

treated.

protozoa,

produce

Immunization

parasitic

enzymes which

programs

roundworms

destroy host's

should be set

and flatworms)

cells or release

up. Vectors

toxins.

must be

Protozoa digest

eradicated.

host's tissues

Sanitation and

or release

sewage

toxins in the

treatment

body. Fungi

should be

destroy host's

improved. STDs

tissues by

should be

extracellular

controlled with

digestion.

condoms.
Artificial
Immunity can
be acquired.
Antibiotics help
if some
diseases is
diagnosed early

Deficiency

Caused by lack

Anaemia causes

A diet rich in

Improve

Disease

of certain

a reduction of

the nutrient

nutrition within

nutrients e.g.

red blood cells,

that they are

populations. For

anemia is cause

reduced oxygen

lacking. Dietary

Anemia, eat iron

be lack of iron,

carrying

supplements

rich foods. For

protein

capacity of

rich in the

kwashiorkor,

deficiency

blood.

missing nutrient

maintain a diet

causes

Kwashiorkor

will also help.

rich in protein.

kwashiorkor,

causes

To prevent

vitamin D or

accumulation

rickets maintain

calcium

under skin,

a diet rich in

deficiency

enlarged fatty

Vitamin D,

causes rickets

liver and

calcium and

discolored

phosphorous

blotchy skin.
Rickets causes
a disorder in
growing bones;
bones ae soft,
weak and
abnormally
formed with
swollen ends at
joints, causes
bow legs.
Physiological

Caused by

There are

Symptoms may

For

Disease

malfunctioning

usually no

be relieved

hypertension,

of body

symptoms of

with drugs as

reduce stress,

systems. Often

hypertension

they occur.

reduce obesity,

caused by

but can lead to;

maintain a diet

ageing. Stress,

enlarged heart

low in salt and

obesity and

muscles, heart

saturated fat,

sedentary

attack, kidney

don't smoke,

lifestyle causes

failure, stroke

reduce

hypertension.

Diabetes

consumption of

Diabetes is

causes

alcohol, Get

caused by

increased blood

exercise,

inability of

sugar (glucose)

improve

Langerhans to

levels in urine,

circulation,

produce enough

increased

maintain

insulin ( insulin

urination,

fitness, and use

converts

constant thirst

diuretic drugs.

glucose to

because of high

For diabetes,

glycogen while

blood sugar

control

glucagon

concentration

carbohydrate

converts

stimulating

intake by eating

glycogen to

'thirst' centres

foods

glucose) and .

in the

containing

Inability of

hypothalamus

polysaccharides

body cells to

of the brain,

rather than

respond

weight loss,

monosaccharide

efficiently to

tiredness,

. Reduce

insulin (Type

sweet smelling

obesity (Type

II) often as a

breath, coma

II), take

result of being

tablets to lower

overweight.

blood glucose
levels (Type II).
Daily Injections
of insulin for
severe diabetes
Regular but
moderate
exercise to
increase
muscular
activity thereby
reducing blood
glucose levels
improve
circulation,
maintain
fitness.

Hereditary

Caused by

With sickle cell

There is no

Genetic

Disease

inheritance of

anemia, the

cure however

counseling to

faulty genes

person's blood

drugs may be

predict the

which express

contains

used to treat

likelihood of

themselves

abnormal

symptoms as

offspring

hemoglobin

they arise.

developing the

which

Avoid situations

disease.

crystallizes

when oxygen

when the

supply is

oxygen

reduced.

concentration
drops. A series
of painful
'crises' occur,
characterized
by joint and
abdominal pain,
high fever and
kidney failure,
heart failure
and often
death in
childhood.

The Role of Vectors in the Transmission of Disease

Pathogens transmitted by vectors have two hosts:
The one in which they feed and cause disease is the primary host.
The one in which they reproduce but cause no harm is the secondary or
intermediate host. Vectors are the secondary hosts.
Because the vectors are unharmed, they become reservoirs from which pathogens can be
continually spread to their primary hosts, ensuring the transmission of pathogens. Control
of vector 'reservoirs' us therefore, of utmost importance in the control of diseases
spread by them. In controlling any vector its life cycle must be fully understood to
determine at which stage or stages control would be most effective.

Diagram Showing the Stages of Life of a Mosquito

The Role of the Mosquito as a vector in the Transmission of Pathogenic

Diseases
Animals spread pathogens by carrying them on or in their bodies. They are called vectors.
Mosquitoes are very dangerous because they are often vectors. Different species transmit
organisms causing a range of diseases, including: malaria, sleeping sickness, elephantiasis,
dengue and yellow fever. The Aedes Mosquito spreads Dengue virus and Yellow fever virus.
The malaria parasite needs the mosquito (vector and intermediate host) and the human to
complete its life cycle. Sexual reproduction is in the female Anopheles mosquito, and
asexual reproduction (multiple fission) is in both the mosquito and human. The mosquito
transmits this pathogen in her saliva when she sucks blood from humans. For two weeks
the parasites multiply in the liver and the person feels unwell. Red cells are infected and a
fever develops. Malaria is caused by a protozoan.

The Control of the Anopheles Mosquito

Spray adults with insect ides.

Spray oil onto still-water breeding areas to interfere with the breathing of larvae
and pupae. Kerosene oil poured on stagnant water reduces surface tension, and

blocks tubes
Drain swamps to reduce breeding places for eggs and remove containers that

collect water
Spray breeding zones to kill larvae and pupae
Use biological methods by introducing fish (Tilapia) into breeding zone to eat larvae
and pupae

AIDS and Gonorrhea

Type of
Disease
AIDS

Causative
Agent
HIV- human
immunodefic
iency virus

Transmis
sion
Infected
semen
through
breaks in
the anus,
vagina or
mouth.
Occurs in
homoand
heterosex
uals. HIV
and
hepatitis
(another
virus) also
transferre

Sympto
ms
Severe
weakenin
g of
body's
immune
system
occurs,
leaving
body
vulnerabl
e to
opportuni
stic
diseases,
e.g.
fungal
pneumon

Preven
tion
Use a
condom
, do not
have
casual
sex,
and get
clinic
checkups

Control
Treat all
cases,
Keep to
one
sexual
partner,
use
condoms,
Trace all
sexual
contacts
of
infected
persons,
Don't se
intraveno
us drugs,

Treatme
nt
Antiviral
drugs to
control or
slow
down
onset of
opportuni
stic
infections
e.g. AZT,
DDI,
protease
inhibitors
. Drugs
to
enhance
the

d by
injected
needles,
e.g. used
for drug
injections,
and by
blood
transfusio
n from
infected
people
which has
not been
treated to
kill the
viruses.
Mother to
baby
during
pregnanc
y and
birth
Gonorr
hoea

Bacterium
(Neisseria
gonorrhoeae
)

Sexual
Intercours
e, Mother
to eyes of
baby
during
birthleads to
blindness
if not
treated

ia.
lymphom
a,
Kaposi's
sarcoma,
Some
symptom
s include
persisten
t cough,
tiredness
, swelling
lymph
glands,
fever,
loss of
appetite,
weight
loss,
night
sweats,
diarrhea,
skin
rashes
Males:
burning
feeling
on
passing
urine.
Pus from
tip of
penis.
Inflamati
on of
urethra
Females:
often no
symptom
s occur
sometim
es there
is an
increase

test all
human
products
to be
given
intraveno
usly for
the AIDS
virus, e.g.
whole
blood,
plasma.
No known
vaccine
available

Use a
condom
, Keep
to one
sexual
partner,
no
known
vaccine
get
clinic
check
ups

Antibiotic
s
specialise
d to
destroy
Neisseria
gonnorrgo
eae ( eg.
penicillin
as drugs
or
injections
) or
sulphona
mide
drugs. It
is very
important
to take
the full

immune
system.
Drugs to
treat
symptom
s of
opportuni
stic
infections
. Drugs
control or
slow the
disease
but no
cure so
far as
genetic
material
of the
virus is
incorpora
ted into
human
cells.
Treat all
cases,
keep to
one
sexual
partner,
use
condoms,
trace and
treat all
sexual
contacts
of
infected
persons,
no known
vaccine

in vaginal
discharg
e.
If
untreate
d results
in:
arthritis,
weakene
d heart,
inflamma
tion of
sperm
ducts
and
fallopian
tubes
which
leads to
sterility,
may also
cause
blindness

course of
the
correct
drug as
untreated
gonnorho
ea can
lead to
heart
disease
and
blindness

Role of Blood in Defending the Body against Disease

If any pathogens do enter the body then the blood acts as the body's second line of
defense:
At a cut: if bleeding and clot formation fails to prevent entry of bacteria, blood vessels
around the cut dilate. This increases blood flow and brings large numbers of phagocytes to
the infected area. The phagocytes engulf and destroy bacteria whilst the bacteria produce
toxins to kill the phagocytes. This causes the formation of a white fluid containing dead
cells called pus. Usually all the bacteria are destroyed, the pus is absorbed and a scab
forms.
In the blood stream: if large numbers of bacteria and viruses enter the blood, free
swimming phagocytes in the blood and stationary phagocytes in lymph nodes engulf and
destroy them, whilst lymphocytes produce antibodies against them.

Immunity is the permanent or temporary resistance to a disease. There are two type of
immunity.

Natural immunity
Actively acquired: different type sof bacteria and viruses have specific proteins in their
walls called antigens. When a pathogen enters the blood, lymphocytes make specific
antibodies against these antigens which:
cause the pathogens to clump together which prevents reproduction and results in their
death, or cause the pathogens to disintegrate, or neutralize toxins produced by the
pathogens - antibodies which do this are called antitoxins.
Production of antibodies takes time and the pathogen will have produced symptoms of
disease before being destroyed or having its toxins neutralized. The antibodies then
gradually disappear from the blood.
If the pathogen invades a second time, lymphocytes immediately recognize the antigens
and rapidly make large amounts of the specific antibody destroying the pathogen or
neutralizing its toxins before symptoms of disease develop: the person has become immune
to the disease. This actively acquired immunity may last a short time, e.g. against
influenza, to a lifetime, e.g. measles is rarely caught twice.
Passively acquired: Some antibodies pass across the placenta providing a new born baby
with immunity against certain diseases. Breast milk contains certain antibodies which give
important protection during breast feeding. The antibodies gradually disappear from the
baby's blood and as the baby's lymphocytes have not been actively involved in their
manufacture, immunity is short lived.

Artifi cial Immunity

Actively acquired by vaccination:
The vaccine contains live but weakened inactivated or dead pathogens which cannot cause
disease, but lymphocytes still make antibodies against the specific antigens present. The
lymphocytes still make antibodies against the specific antigens present. The lymphocytes
thus 'learn' the specific antigens so that the next time the pathogen enters the body,
they immediately make antibodies, destroying the pathogen before the disease develops.
Immunity may last for a short time to a lifetime, e.g. a vaccination against typhoid lasts
three years, vaccinations against rubella (German measles) and tuberculosis last a lifetime.

Passively acquired by vaccination:

The vaccine contains readymade antibodies, usually antitoxins therefore provides an
immediate source of antibodies. Because the antibodies gradually disappear from the blood
and the lymphocytes have not 'learnt' to make them, immunity is short lived, e.g. the
vaccination which provides three months' protection against hepatitis.

Drug Use and Abuse

A drug is a chemical that alters the functioning of living tissues. Many drugs are used
medically

Disease in Plants and Animals

Infected plants may die or be smaller, with fewer seeds, fruits or storage organs. Farmers
have to spend money and time to replace diseased or dead plants. Infected animals may die
or be smaller, with less meat or milk production for food.
Development of strains (or varieties) resistant to diseases is expensive.
There are very few animals that do not suffer from disease. Bacteria and viruses can
enter their bodies in the same ways as they enter ours. Most mammals suffer from
diseases very similar to those that humans suffer from. Pneumonia, influenza and hepatitis
are found in other mammals, just as they are in humans. The effects of disease in other
mammals can be serious in a number of ways. It can be distressing to see a pet suffer
from a serious illness - the animal usually does not understand pain in the same way that we
do. The job of a veterinary surgeon is often more difficult than that of a doctor as animals
have way more difficult than that of a doctor as animals have no way of communicating
their discomfort to aid diagnosis.
Disease in stock animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry can clearly result in
reduced productivity and profit for a farmer. This reduction in productivity and profit
applies also to crop plants. If they become infected, their yield is inevitably reduced.
Salmonella can be passed on to a human from eating infected human foods made from
infected poultry from eating infected animal foods, causing loss of human life.
In industrialized countries, potential risks associated with food borne pathogens are
minimized through stringent animal health control measures. Diseased animals cannot be
used to produce human food. For instance, milk from cows with an udder infection cannot
be sold or delivered to the dairy plant.
Case Examples:
The swine flu pandemic of 2009 killed an estimated 284,500 people
Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne viral zoonotic disease. The first recorded outbreak
of the disease, in Egypt in 1977, caused an estimated 200 000 human cases of the disease
and approximately 600 deaths, as well as large numbers of deaths and abortions in sheep,
cattle and other livestock species. In 1997, 1998 and 2000, outbreaks of the disease in

eastern Africa not only caused livestock losses and human deaths but also seriously
disrupted the region's valuable livestock export trade to the Near East.
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is often regarded as an insidious, low-mortality
disease of cattle, but this assessment is based on experiences in endemic areas. In
susceptible cattle populations, the disease can spread surprisingly rapidly and cause high
mortality rates. The disease is spread with the movement of infected animals, including
acute cases and chronic carriers. Major CBPP epidemics have been experienced in eastern,
southern and western Africa over the last few years. It currently affects 27countries in
Africa at an estimated annual cost of $2 billion. Bibliography