A pathogen can be described as a microorganism that causes disease. As your body is full of natural microbes, these microbes can only cause a problem if these microbes enter your body when your body’s immune system is weakened or enter a part of your body normally sterile, meaning free from all microbial life. Pathogens, on the other hand, are different and can cause disease upon entering the body. Pathogens need a host to thrive avoid detection by the body’s immune system and uses the body’s resources to replicate before exiting the host. There are several ways of how a pathogen can travel to a new host. They can be spread through skin contact, bodily fluids, airborne particles, contact with feces, and touching a surface touched by an infected person. As there are different types of pathogens, these are the most common ones and will be highlighted.
Viruses are made out of a piece of genetic code for instance DNA or RNA and protected by a coating of protein. Once you get infected, the viruses invade host cells within your body. Then with the components of the host body, they replicate thus producing more viruses. After the replication cycle is complete, these new viruses are then released from the host cell. The release damages the host cell or damages them.
Bacteria are classified as microorganisms made of a single cell. Bacteria are a very diverse group of single-cell organisms and can exist in different shapes and sized and virtually can survive any environment. Not all bacteria are deemed harmful. Harmful bacteria that can cause infections are called pathogenic bacteria. The body can be more vulnerable to bacterial infection when your immune system is invaded by a virus rendering harmless bacteria pathogenic. For this anti-biotic medication is used to treat bacterial infection.
Fungi have a wide range of species in existence according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention only 300 species are known to cause infections. Fungi species are known to be in every environment indoor, outdoor, and on your skin. Fungi can cause infections when they overgrow.
Parasites are organisms that behave like tiny animals, living in or on a host and feeding from or at the expense of the host through the means of parasitic infections. Parasitic infections are most likely to occur in tropical or sub-tropical countries, though they can occur anywhere. there are three main parasites that cause disease in humans, namely Protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites.
It is important that you practice proper hygiene and cleanliness to limit the likelihood of getting infected by pathogenic microorganisms. Though nothing can guarantee the avoidance of being infected, practicing basic hygiene procedures daily has proven to be an important factor in contracting an illness. With the advent of coronavirus special attention has been brought on disinfecting high frequented areas in your home. Our disinfection service Toronto can help thereby treating your home with non-toxic chemicals that make it safe around your loved ones.
