LAB #12: Epidemiology and Blood Analysis

epidemiology

• the study of the spread of disease through a population

  • father of epidemiology: John Snow and his intervention on the spread of cholera in the golden square of London

endemic

a disease that is constantly present at some level all over the planet

• ex. colds and flus

epidemic

suddenly having more than expected number of cases (or any cases of a brand new disease) in a particular region

• ex. COVID19 appearing in china

pandemic

the spread of disease from one region to multiple continents and countries

• COVID19 appearing around the world

incidence

• number on NEW CASES contracted within a set population during a particular period of time

  • usually expressed as number of cases per 10,000 people/year

  • good indicator of the spread of disease

prevalence

• TOTAL NUMBER of people infected at any given time

  • includes old/new cases

  • indicative of the severity/duration of the disease

reservoir of infectious agent

the habitat in which the agent normally grows, lived and multiplies

living reservoirs

• humans

• animals

  • zoonoses: diseases that spread of animal to human

    • ex. swine flu

    • biological: diret transmission

    • mechanical: indirect transmission

non living reservoirs

soil, H2O, and food

transmission

the movement of the pathogen from a reservoir of exit to a hosts portal of entrance

direct

person to person contact or droplet spreading from sneezing or coughing

indirect

reservoirs (non-human) acting as a vehicle of transmission (fomites)

blood typing

humans have A, B, AB, or O blood types. Mixing non compatible blood types can cause aggulation, or clumping of the blood cells. This blocks the blood vessels and can cause death

antigens

proteins that are anchored to the RBC’s and determine the type of blood you have

antibodies

proteins in the plasma and have immune function

Rh Antigen

+ or - in your blood type indicated if you have the Rh antigen present (A+ can accept - blood, A- cant accept + blood)

coagulation

clotting