Infectious Diseases and Their Pathogens

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions regarding various infectious diseases and their causative agents as described in the lecture notes.

Brucellosis

Also known as Undulant fever; caused by Brucella abortus, a Gram-negative bacteria, characterized by recurring high fever, chills, and night sweats.

Hepatitis A

An inflammatory liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV), characterized by symptoms including jaundice, anorexia, and low-grade fever.

Viral Gastroenteritis

Often referred to as stomach flu; characterized by diarrhea and vomiting, commonly caused by viruses like Rotavirus and Norovirus.

Poliomyelitis (Polio)

A viral disease caused by the poliovirus, characterized by the ability to multiply in motor neurons, leading to paralysis in less than 1% of cases.

Giardiasis

An infection caused by the protozoan Giardia intestinalis, characterized by prolonged diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Amoebiasis

Also known as Amoebic Dysentery; caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, it can lead to symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and liver abscess.

Tapeworm Infection (Taeniasis)

An infection caused by Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm), characterized by a multi-stage lifecycle with possible symptoms like abdominal discomfort.

Life Cycle of Parasites

The continuous sequence of morphological changes undergone by an organism as part of its reproduction; includes stages of sexual and asexual reproduction.

Prion Disease

A neurodegenerative condition caused by abnormally folded proteins, characterized by progressive degeneration of brain tissue and is often fatal.

Cysticercosis

An infection with the larval stage of tapeworms; can result in neurocysticercosis if the larvae develop in the central nervous system.