Final answer:
Major non living reservoirs of infectious disease include soil, water sources contaminated with pathogens, and self-propagating particles such as viroids, virusoids, and prions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major non living reservoirs of infectious disease include substances and environments that can harbor disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. These reservoirs often provide a haven for these agents to survive outside of a host organism. Examples include soil, which can contain endospores of bacteria like Clostridium tetani that cause tetanus, and water sources, which may be contaminated with bacteria such as Legionella pneumophila, responsible for Legionnaires' disease. Additionally, industrial pollutants and toxic wastes contribute significantly to the degradation of ecosystems, which can indirectly support the spread of infectious diseases by affecting the health of potential hosts.
Specific particles that are able to self-propagate, such as viroids, virusoids, and prions, also represent non living reservoirs. These pathogens are quite distinct from traditional viruses and can self-replicate within a host organism, causing various disease conditions.