Pathology (a.k.a.

Host-Microbe Interactions)
The study of disease

Plague by Arnold Boecklin, 1898

Etiology of plague then.
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Yersinia pestis, ASM Microbelibrary

Etiology of plague now

From www. cen-online.org

Dec. 13, 2010
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Number of hosts infected

Endemic
Sporadic
Epidemic

time

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Localized vs. Systemic Infection

6. Local infection: Pathogens are limited to small area
of the body.
7. Systemic infection: An infection throughout the body.

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Primary vs Secondary Infections

8. Primary infection: Initial infection
9. Secondary infection: Opportunistic infection which
follows primary (opportunistic pathogen is one that isnt
strong enough to cause a disease on its ownneeds
a host that is already weakened)

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Acute vs Chronic Infection

10. Acute disease: Symptoms develop quickly, but
severe, short-lived in duration..
11. Chronic disease: Disease develops slowly, less
severe, longer-lasting.

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Nosocomial (Hospital-Acquired) Infections

Hospital-acquired. 8th leading cause of death in US.
5-15% of all hospital patients acquire nosocomial
infections.
Result from three factors
B

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Figures 14.6b, 14.9

A. MOs lurking in hospital

1. What are some common causes of nosocomial
infections?
Resistant microbes
Staff
patients
Fomites
2. Why are nosocomial strains often more virulent than
non-hospital strains?
Resistance factors transferred from mo to mo
Less resistant strains killed off by antibiotics

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Relative Frequency of Nosocomial Infections

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Table 14.5

Sign vs Symptom
13. Sign: objective change in a body that can be
observed, measured Examples?
14. Symptom: Subjective change in body function
Examples?

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Antiphagocytic factors
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Prevent encounters
with phagocytes
C5a peptidase
Cytolytic toxins

C5a

Microbes

Avoid recognition
and attachment
Capsules
M protein
Fc receptors

C3b

Phagocyte
Lysosomes

Pseudopod

Phagosome

C3b

Phagolysosome
C3b receptors
on phagocyte

Digestive
enzymes
3

Survive within phagocytes

Escape from the phagosome
Prevent phagosomelysosome fusion
Survive within the phagosome

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Acquisition and Transmission

Communicable disease: A disease that is spread
from one host to another.
Ex: Herpes, flu, chickenpox

Noncommunicable disease: A disease that is

acquired from the environment. Ex: Tetanus
Contagious disease: A communicable disease that is easily
spread from one host to another. Ex: Chickenpox

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Nonliving reservoirs
a. Soil - Ex: Fungi, Clostridium sp., worm eggs
b. Water - Ex: Cholera, Salmonella
c. Food - Ex: improperly cooked or prepared
Hepatitis, E. coli, Salmonella, botulism

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B. Transmission of infection
a. Direct contact: Person-to-person: touching, kissing,
sex

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B. Transmission of infection
b. Indirect contact: Fomites: contaminated
objects
Examples:

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b. Droplet: wet droplets like cough, sneeze;

travels less than 1 meter.

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2. Vehicle: Transmission by an

inanimate reservoir
Waterborne: contaminated water
Foodborne: improperly cooked
or handled

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c. Airborne: wet droplets like cough, sneeze;

travels longer than 1 meter.

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3. Vectors: Arthropods, especially fleas, ticks, and

mosquitoes.
Mechanical: Arthropod carries pathogen on body.
Biological: Pathogen reproduces in vector.

Engorged flea, CDC

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Lyme Disease Bulls Eye

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Lyme Disease in U.S., 2014

(cdc.gov)

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Fig.23.14

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Buboes

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Howd you like this guy in your follicle?

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Mmmm, yummy!

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Nightmare on Your Hair!

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Severity of symptoms

V. Development of a Disease: The Stages

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Figure 14.5

Development of disease reflects bacterial growth curve

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V. Development of a Disease: The Stages

A. Incubation period:
From exposure to 1st
appearance of
symptoms
early, mild symptoms

Severity of symptoms

B. Prodromal period:

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Severity of symptoms

C. Period of illness: acute

stage. Signs &
symptoms at peak
D. Period of decline: Signs
& symptoms reduced
E. Period of
convalescence: Body
recovers

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