Name two bacteria, viral and fungal disease
Answers
Airborne
Bacterial Diseases
1.Whooping cough: Caused by Bordetella pertussis,
a gram negative, aerobic, coccobacillus bacterium. The disease is prevented by
vaccines like DTaP (childhood vaccination) and Tdap (booster dose in
adulthood). The symptoms of the disease are managed with antibiotics.
2.Meningitis: Caused by Gram negative, diplococcus
bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis. A person acquires this bacterium by kissing
infected person and inhaling the air containing this infectious agent. This
bacterium infects the protective layer of the affected individual’s brain and
causes inflammation. MCV4 and MPSV4 are the vaccines available.
3.Diphtheria: Caused by corynebacterium
diphtheria, a Gram positive, facultative anaerobic bacterium. Antibiotics like
Metronidazole, procaine penicillin G and erythromycin are used to manage the
symptoms and it is prevented with the help of the DPT vaccine.
4.Pneumonia: This is condition of inflammation of
the lungs caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Gram positive, alpha hemolytic).
Pneumococcal vaccine which is pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugated
bacteria is used to prevent the disease.
5.Tuberculosis: Bacteria Mycobacterium
tuberculosis targets the lungs on entering the human body and causes
tuberculosis. The infected individual is given antibiotics like isoniazid,
rifampicin based on the symptoms and the disease can be prevented with BCG
(Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine.
Airborne Viral
Diseases
1.Chickenpox: The virus of the herpes virus
species called as Varicella zoster virus is the microbe responsible for
chickenpox. Involuntary actions like coughing and sneezing by an infected
person release this virus into air and a person inhaling the air gets infected.
Varicella vaccine, Zostavax is the preventive tool.
2.Influenza: Caused by Influenza viruses of the
group RNA viruses under the family Orthomyxoviridae. A person gets infected
either by being present near an affected person or through contact with
droppings of birds as this virus is infectious to both birds and mammals.
Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (TIV) shot prevent the infection and drugs like
Tamiflu is prescribed to the infected person.
3.Measles: Enveloped, single stranded negative
sense RNA virus called as Paramyxovirus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus
causes Measles and the disease is prevented with a shot of MMR (Measles, Mumps
and Rubella) vaccine.
4.SARS: This is a type of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome caused by infection with the SARS corona
virus and its pathogenicity is seen in birds as well as mammals. Identifying
and isolating the infected person is the best way to prevent SARS.
Supplementing oxygen, providing ventilation and administering antipyretics
drugs to the infected person are the practiced methods in managing the disease.
Airborne Fungal
Diseases
1.Aspergillosis: Fungal species of the genus
Aspergillus seem to be present both in the outdoor and indoor environment is
responsible for the disease Aspergillosis and individual with weakened immune
system is more prone to this pathogen. This fungus targets the lungs and also
known to develop some allergic reaction.
2.Cryptococcosis: The fungal spores of the genus
Cryptococcus, the Cryptococcus neoformans present in air is responsible for
lung infection and may also affect the brain by causing inflammation.
Thus the above discussed pathogens and the types
of disease caused by them makes clear that infectious agents not only spread
through contaminated water and spoiled food but also through the omnipresent
air and people with weak immune system becomes the first victims of these
diseases.