Final answer:
Pathogens that can cause diseases in animals include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, while viruses often require supportive care or vaccinations. The common cold is caused by a virus, and athlete's foot is caused by a fungus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pathogens are agents, usually microorganisms, that can cause disease. In animals, as well as humans, these include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, helminths (worms), and prions. For instance, bacteria are single-celled organisms without a nucleus and include species such as Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax. Viruses are responsible for diseases like the common cold in humans. Fungi can lead to infections such as athlete's foot, and protozoa can cause serious diseases, including malaria.
Infectious diseases attributable to these pathogens vary in how they affect animals and the severity of their consequences. Certain bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. However, viral infections often require different approaches, such as vaccinations or supportive care, given that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses. Zoonotic diseases, which are transmitted from animals to humans, can be caused by a range of pathogens, with some requiring arthropod vectors for transmission.
To answer the specific questions based on the types of pathogens: the common cold is primarily caused by rhinoviruses, which are a type of virus, and athlete's foot is caused by Trichophyton, which is a fungal pathogen.