SNAR 154: Pathology and Microbiology in Natural Resources

Flashcards covering the foundational concepts of pathology, disease causation, and transmission as applied to natural resources.

Pathology

The scientific study of disease causes, processes, and effects in living systems and ecosystems.

Etiology

The study of the cause of a disease; knowledge of the primary cause is essential for diagnosis and treatment.

Pathogenesis

The mechanism through which a cause leads to pathological and clinical manifestations, sometimes occurring during the latent period.

Morphologic changes

Structural alterations induced in cells and organs as a result of pathogenic mechanisms.

Clinical features

The functional consequences of morphologic changes, consisting of signs and symptoms.

Symptoms

Subjective feelings experienced and reported by the patient or host, such as tiredness or a headache.

Signs

Objective findings discovered by an examiner during a physical examination, such as an enlarged lymph node or spleen.

Idiopathic

A term used to describe a disease when its primary cause is unknown.

Down's syndrome

A genetic etiologic factor characterized by a chromosomal abnormality involving an extra chromosome $21$.

Gross morphologic changes

Structural alterations in cells or tissues that are visible to the naked eye.

Microscopic changes

Structural alterations in cells or tissues that can only be seen under a light microscope.

Health

The ability of an ecosystem or organism to maintain its structure, function, and recovery from disturbances.

Stress

Any factor that reduces normal function and can make organisms more vulnerable to disease agents.

Disease

An abnormal functioning caused by a pathogen or harmful condition, often following a progression of signs and symptoms.

Damage

The physical or functional harm resulting from disease or stress, such as tissue loss, reduced growth, or mortality.

Disease Triangle

A conceptual model stating that disease occurs when a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and a favorable environment come together.

Biotic causes of disease

Living infectious agents including fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and parasites.

Abiotic causes of disease

Non-living factors such as nutrient deficiencies, pollution, drought, flooding, and temperature extremes.

Fungi

Common disease-causing organisms in forests that spread through spores and can attack leaves, stems, roots, and seeds.

Bacteria

Microscopic organisms that cause rapid and destructive disease, often invading through wounds or natural openings like stomata.

Viruses

Submicroscopic agents that invade living cells and use host machinery to multiply, often causing chronic symptoms like mosaic patterns or chlorosis.

Nematodes

Microscopic roundworms that damage roots and stems, often causing galls or lesions that serve as entry points for other pathogens.

Susceptibility

The tendency or vulnerability of a host to be infected or damaged by a pathogen.

Resistance

The capacity of a host to limit infection, spread, or injury, which may be inherited or acquired.

Pathogenicity

The fundamental ability of an organism to cause disease.

Virulence

The degree of damage or severity caused by a specific pathogen.

Aggressiveness

The rate at which a pathogen colonizes or spreads within a host or a population.

Incubation period

The time between initial infection by a pathogen and the appearance of visible symptoms.

Disease Cycle

The stages through which a pathogen survives, spreads, infects, and reproduces, including dispersal and colonization.

Inoculum

The portion of a pathogen (such as spores or bacterial cells) that can initiate disease on a host.

Incidence

The number of new disease cases that occur within a given period, measuring the speed of spread.

Prevalence

The total number of existing disease cases in a population at a particular snapshot in time.

Vectors

Carrier organisms, such as insects or mites, that transport pathogens from infected to healthy hosts.

Root rots

Diseases that damage the root system, reducing nutrient and water uptake and often leading to tree instability.

Stem cankers

Localized dead areas on bark or wood that disrupt transport tissues and reduce structural integrity.

Wilts

Symptoms occurring when vascular systems are blocked or damaged, resulting in drooping leaves and sudden plant collapse.

Sanitation

The management practice of removing infected material and cleaning tools to reduce the amount of inoculum.