In veterinary medicine, what term refers to an organism capable of causing disease?

In veterinary medicine, what term refers to an organism capable of causing disease?

• A. Pathogen
• B. Antigen
• C. Founder
• D. Strangles

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that a disease-causing organism is called a pathogen. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and they have factors that help them invade the host and cause illness. Whether disease develops depends on the pathogen’s virulence and the host’s defenses and exposure. An antigen is a substance that the immune system recognizes; it may be part of a pathogen, but it isn’t itself the disease-causing organism. Strangles is the name of a disease in horses, not the organism that causes it. Founder isn’t a term used to describe disease-causing organisms in this context. For example, Streptococcus equi is a pathogen that can cause strangles.

The main idea is that a disease-causing organism is called a pathogen. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and they have factors that help them invade the host and cause illness. Whether disease develops depends on the pathogen’s virulence and the host’s defenses and exposure.

An antigen is a substance that the immune system recognizes; it may be part of a pathogen, but it isn’t itself the disease-causing organism. Strangles is the name of a disease in horses, not the organism that causes it. Founder isn’t a term used to describe disease-causing organisms in this context. For example, Streptococcus equi is a pathogen that can cause strangles.