What term describes disease-causing organisms?

What term describes disease-causing organisms?

• A. Pathogenic
• B. Benign
• C. Virulent
• D. Nonpathogenic

Answer: (A)

Disease-causing organisms are described as pathogenic. Pathogenic means capable of causing disease in a host, and it covers bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Virulence is about how severe the disease can be once infection occurs, not whether the organism can cause disease at all. Benign and nonpathogenic describe organisms that do not cause disease, while virulent refers to the level of harm, not the general disease-causing ability. So pathogenic is the right term for disease-causing organisms.

Disease-causing organisms are described as pathogenic. Pathogenic means capable of causing disease in a host, and it covers bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Virulence is about how severe the disease can be once infection occurs, not whether the organism can cause disease at all. Benign and nonpathogenic describe organisms that do not cause disease, while virulent refers to the level of harm, not the general disease-causing ability. So pathogenic is the right term for disease-causing organisms.