SURG SCI 548 Exam 1 Questions with 100%
Verified Answers Latest Updates 2025
Graded A+
What is the difference between infection and disease?
A disease is caused as a result of an infection
Infection
occurs when bacteria/ viruses cause disease to enter your body and begin to multiply
indirect transmission of an organism
the transfer of an infectious agent through a contaminated inanimate object
direct transmission of an organisms
occurs between infectious and susceptible organisms
contagious
diseases transmitted between animals
What is the difference between infectious and contagious?
not all infectious diseases are contagious
opportunistic infection
infections that occur more often or are more severe in people with weakened immune
system than in people with healthy immune system
"Iceberg Concept"
animals exposed to an agent may remain uninfected
susceptible to future infection OR developed immunity from past exposure
What you can see: clinical disease
What you can't see: subclinical disease and exposure without infection (you'll never see
or know)
Endemic Disease
the usual or expected prevalence of a disease within a given geographic area or
population group
Epidemic Disease
a greater than expected occurrence of a disease in a localized area or population
Subclinical Disease
a condition in which disease is detectable by special tests, but does not reveal itself by
signs
Reservoir
anything in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies, on which it depends
primarily for survival, and where it reproduces itself in such a manner that it can be
transmitted to a susceptible host
Reservoir Examples
Humans: sexually-transmitted diseases
, Birds: West Nile virus, wild waterfowl-avian influenza
Rodents: lyme disease
Vector
an insect or any living carrier that transports an infectious agent from an infected
individual or its wastes to susceptible individual or its food or immediate surroundings
Biological Vectors
carry pathogens that can multiply within their bodies and be delivered to new hosts,
usually biting
EX:: mosquitos
Mechanical Vectors
can pick up infectious agents on the outside of the bodies and transmit them through
physical contact
EX: flies
Passive Surveillance
system in which health jurisdiction receives reports from other sources
Pros of Passive Surveillance
convenience sampling, use of existing datasets, cost effective, novel diseases
Cons of Passive Surveillance
biased sampling, incomplete geographic coverage, long-term datasets
Active Surveillance
actively looking for diseases in animals
pros of active surveillance
early detection, assessment of prevalance/ spatial distribution in a defined population or
regions, unbiased
cons of active surveillance
large sample size, more effort (expense), challenge of biased-free collection
steps of disease investigation
1. obtain a field history
2. decide if a significant outbreak is occurring
3. practice good biosecurity
4. collect samples from sick or dead animals
5. save additional carcasses as safeguard
6. conduct laboratory analyzes to identify cause(s)
7. communicate results to stakeholders
8. implement appropriate management actions
9. asses if further study is warranted
Biosecurity
aims to prevent infections and their spread to animals, humans, and the environment
What are some examples of biosecurity measures taken during wildlife disease
outbreaks?
disposable gloves, masks/ eye protection, plastic bags, cooler, scrub brush, etc
Toxic Agent
anything (biological, physical, chemical) that can produce an adverse biological effect
Verified Answers Latest Updates 2025
Graded A+
What is the difference between infection and disease?
A disease is caused as a result of an infection
Infection
occurs when bacteria/ viruses cause disease to enter your body and begin to multiply
indirect transmission of an organism
the transfer of an infectious agent through a contaminated inanimate object
direct transmission of an organisms
occurs between infectious and susceptible organisms
contagious
diseases transmitted between animals
What is the difference between infectious and contagious?
not all infectious diseases are contagious
opportunistic infection
infections that occur more often or are more severe in people with weakened immune
system than in people with healthy immune system
"Iceberg Concept"
animals exposed to an agent may remain uninfected
susceptible to future infection OR developed immunity from past exposure
What you can see: clinical disease
What you can't see: subclinical disease and exposure without infection (you'll never see
or know)
Endemic Disease
the usual or expected prevalence of a disease within a given geographic area or
population group
Epidemic Disease
a greater than expected occurrence of a disease in a localized area or population
Subclinical Disease
a condition in which disease is detectable by special tests, but does not reveal itself by
signs
Reservoir
anything in which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies, on which it depends
primarily for survival, and where it reproduces itself in such a manner that it can be
transmitted to a susceptible host
Reservoir Examples
Humans: sexually-transmitted diseases
, Birds: West Nile virus, wild waterfowl-avian influenza
Rodents: lyme disease
Vector
an insect or any living carrier that transports an infectious agent from an infected
individual or its wastes to susceptible individual or its food or immediate surroundings
Biological Vectors
carry pathogens that can multiply within their bodies and be delivered to new hosts,
usually biting
EX:: mosquitos
Mechanical Vectors
can pick up infectious agents on the outside of the bodies and transmit them through
physical contact
EX: flies
Passive Surveillance
system in which health jurisdiction receives reports from other sources
Pros of Passive Surveillance
convenience sampling, use of existing datasets, cost effective, novel diseases
Cons of Passive Surveillance
biased sampling, incomplete geographic coverage, long-term datasets
Active Surveillance
actively looking for diseases in animals
pros of active surveillance
early detection, assessment of prevalance/ spatial distribution in a defined population or
regions, unbiased
cons of active surveillance
large sample size, more effort (expense), challenge of biased-free collection
steps of disease investigation
1. obtain a field history
2. decide if a significant outbreak is occurring
3. practice good biosecurity
4. collect samples from sick or dead animals
5. save additional carcasses as safeguard
6. conduct laboratory analyzes to identify cause(s)
7. communicate results to stakeholders
8. implement appropriate management actions
9. asses if further study is warranted
Biosecurity
aims to prevent infections and their spread to animals, humans, and the environment
What are some examples of biosecurity measures taken during wildlife disease
outbreaks?
disposable gloves, masks/ eye protection, plastic bags, cooler, scrub brush, etc
Toxic Agent
anything (biological, physical, chemical) that can produce an adverse biological effect
