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What is the difference between a pathogen infective dose and lethal dose?

User ShiningRay
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Answer:

The pathogen infective dose and lethal dose are two different measures used to describe the potential impact of a pathogen on the body:

1. Pathogen infective dose: This refers to the minimum number of microorganisms required to cause an infection in a host. This can vary depending on the type of pathogen, the virulence of the strain, and the susceptibility of the host. For example, for some bacteria, such as Salmonella or E. coli, a relatively small number of cells can cause an infection, whereas for other pathogens, such as the hepatitis B virus, a much larger number may be required.

2. Lethal dose: This refers to the amount of a pathogen or toxin that is required to cause death in a host. Again, this can vary depending on the specific pathogen or toxin and the susceptibility of the host. For example, the lethal dose of the botulinum toxin is estimated to be as low as 0.03 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, while the lethal dose for some strains of the Ebola virus can be as low as a few hundred virus particles.

Step-by-step explanation:

In summary, the infective dose and lethal dose are two different measures used to describe the impact of a pathogen on the body. The infective dose refers to the minimum number of microorganisms required to cause an infection, while the lethal dose refers to the amount of a pathogen or toxin that is required to cause death in a host.

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