Final answer:
Pathogenicity is the ability of a pathogen to cause disease by overcoming the body's defenses. It involves stages of pathogenesis, including exposure, adhesion, invasion, infection, and transmission. The severity of the disease can vary depending on the virulence of the pathogen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of a pathogen to overcome the body's defenses and cause disease is known as pathogenicity. Pathogenicity is the capability of a microorganism to cause a disease in a host.
It involves several stages of pathogenesis, including exposure, adhesion, invasion, infection, and transmission. Pathogenicity can vary among different pathogens, with some being highly virulent and causing severe illness, while others may only result in mild symptoms.