DISEASE

Disease is any condi on which impairs the normal func oning of the human body. There are many causes of
disease. The two main categories of disease are:
Infec ous diseases
Non-Infec ous diseases

INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Infec ous diseases are caused by disease causing agents called pathogens. There are six main types of
pathogens: prions, viruses, bacteria, protozoans, fungi and parasites. These pathogens vary greatly in size
and shape and also in the types of diseases they cause in their host.

Find informa on about each of these specimens or diseases and iden fy which type of pathogen they are caused by
(circle your selec on).

DISEASE /
DISEASE CAUSING PATHOGEN:
SPECIMEN NUMBER

HIV / AIDS Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite

3035.7

MALARIA
microscope Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite
room

HYDATID
DISEASE Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite
3000.14

TYPHOID Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite

492.15

LUNG ASPERGILLOSIS
2130.14 Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite

SYPHILIS
Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite
display

CRYPTOCOCCOSIS
2190.9 Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite

VARIANT
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoan Fungi Parasite
DISEASE
display

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF PATHOGENS:
Pathogens are different sizes and have a range of dis nguishing characteris cs.
Can you iden fy the pathogen type which best fits each of these characteris cs? (circle your selec on)

These pathogens are not made of cells and are

o en considered not living even though they
contain nucleic acids. Vaccina on may Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoa Fungi Parasite
protect us from some of the diseases they
cause.
These are the smallest of all pathogens. They
are made up of only protein and have no DNA
or cellular structures. They cause diseases like Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoa Fungi Parasite
mad cow disease.

These are the largest pathogens many of

which are visible to the naked eye like
tapeworms and cks. They require a host as Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoa Fungi Parasite
part of their life cycle.

These are cellular pathogens but they do not

have any membranes around organelles
(prokaryo c). We treat the diseases they Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoa Fungi Parasite
cause with an bio cs.
These single celled pathogens are o en found
in water or soil and cause diseases like
amoebic dysentery. Many of these pathogens Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoa Fungi Parasite
are spread by vectors like the mosquito or in
contaminated drinking water.
These pathogens can be microscopic or
macroscopic. They have DNA and membrane
bound organelles (eukaryo c). They are Prion Virus Bacteria Protozoa Fungi Parasite

thrush and ringworm.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Many diseases have modern names.

You will find the game and its answers on
the pillar near the front of the museum.

Consump on

Morphew

Podagra (Hint: the scien fic

Variola (Hint: this name is s ll used as the Genus name for this viral disease)

Grippe

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