Which term is defined as a disease-causing microorganism?

Which term is defined as a disease-causing microorganism?

• A. Parasites
• B. Pathogen
• C. Physical Hazards
• D. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Answer: (B)

A disease-causing microorganism is called a pathogen. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and sometimes parasites when they cause illness. The key idea is that this term identifies any microbe capable of entering a host and causing disease. Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host and can cause harm, but the term doesn’t specifically denote all disease-causing microbes. Physical hazards refer to nonbiological contaminants like glass or metal, and PCBs are chemical pollutants. So the best term for a disease-causing microorganism is pathogen.

A disease-causing microorganism is called a pathogen. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and sometimes parasites when they cause illness. The key idea is that this term identifies any microbe capable of entering a host and causing disease.

Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host and can cause harm, but the term doesn’t specifically denote all disease-causing microbes. Physical hazards refer to nonbiological contaminants like glass or metal, and PCBs are chemical pollutants. So the best term for a disease-causing microorganism is pathogen.