Nevada/California Regional Honors Institute

Phi Theta Kappa
Nevada-California Region
The Dimensions and Directions of Health:
Choices in the Maze

Infectious Disease

Although the terms infection and disease are sometimes used interchangeably, they differ somewhat in meaning. Infection is the invasion or colonization of body by pathogenic microorganisms; disease is an abnormal state in which part or all of the body is not properly adjusted or incapable of performing its normal function. Some diseases are due to infection; other diseases may be genetic, iatrogenic, or environmental. Disease-caused microbes are called pathogens.

Match the following descriptions to the microbes. Click here to show the list of microbes in a small window that you can print or view next to the questions.

1. Causes peptic ulcers.

2. Causes Lyme disease.

3. Causes liver cancer.

4. Worldwide, 40 million people are infected; 43% are female.

5. The first vaccine was made against this microbe.

6. Worldwide, this acute, highly communicable one kills 1 million children annually.

7. Normally found in the soil, the disease is not contagious.

8. The most common cause of gastroenteritis.

9. The most common sexually transmitted disease.

10. An epidemic of this alga in California is threatening to kill all of the oak trees.

11. The reservoir is wild birds; this microbe is threatening California poultry.

12. The reservoir is chickens and pigs.

13. Normally found in human intestines; produces folic acid and vitamin K.

14. Causes pimples & food poisoning.

Answer Choices. Choices may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

a. Borrelia burgdorferi

b. Chlamydia

c. Clostridium botulinum

d. Escherichia coli

e. Helicobacter pylori

f. Hepatitis A virus

g. Hepatitis B virus

h. HIV

i. Influenzavirus

j. Measles virus

k. Newcastle disease virus

l. Phytophthora

m. Rabies virus

n. Rotavirus

o. Salmonella

p. Smallpox

q. Staphylococcus aureus

r. Streptococcus pyogenes

s. Treponema