Which term refers to a microorganism that causes disease, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites?

Which term refers to a microorganism that causes disease, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites?

• A. Germ
• B. Virus
• C. Pathogen
• D. Infection

Answer: (C)

Pathogen is the term for any microorganism that can cause disease. That includes viruses, bacteria, and parasites—so it covers all the different types of disease-causing agents. A virus, for example, is a kind of pathogen, but the word pathogen is the broad category that encompasses viruses as well as bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Infection refers to the actual condition of disease that results when a pathogen invades and multiplies in a host, not the agent itself. The word germ is informal and imprecise, and in public health we use pathogen for precision.

Pathogen is the term for any microorganism that can cause disease. That includes viruses, bacteria, and parasites—so it covers all the different types of disease-causing agents. A virus, for example, is a kind of pathogen, but the word pathogen is the broad category that encompasses viruses as well as bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Infection refers to the actual condition of disease that results when a pathogen invades and multiplies in a host, not the agent itself. The word germ is informal and imprecise, and in public health we use pathogen for precision.