MANALOTO, BEISHA MAE LYN A.

MICROBIOLOGY & PARASITOLOGY BSN1 - E

Give examples of Pathogens and Non-pathogens (Specific names)

Pathogen can be anything such as bacteria, virus or any other microorganisms

that can cause diseases. It may also refer to as infectious agent or a germ. There are 5
types of pathogens which are viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and worms.

A. Viruses
 Rhinovirus – causes common colds but there are other 200 viruses that
can also cause colds.
 Seasonal Influenza – can cause flu that is more severe than a common
cold for it includes body pain and severe fatigue.
 Respiratory Syncytial Virus – can cause both upper and lower respiratory
infections like colds and pneumonia.
 Hepatitis A – can cause and affects the liver for a few weeks up to several
months.
 Rotavirus – causes severe, watery diarrhea that can lead to dehydration.
B. Bacteria
 Acidobacteria – are abundant in a wide variety of soil environments.
 Actinobacteria – are phylum of Gram-positive bacteria that can be
terrestrial or aquatic.
 Staphylococcus aureus – excess multiplication of this bacterium causes
staph infections in humans.
 Bacillus anthrax – infection in humans leads to anthrax disease
 Streptococcus pyogenes – increased multiplication of S. pyogenes leads
to several diseases.
C. Fungi
 Candida albicans – grows naturally inside the human body, but sometimes
it can grow excessively and cause a yeast infection.
 Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis – is responsible for disease found in
amphibians.
 Claviceps purpurea – causes ergot, a disease of cereal crops
MANALOTO, BEISHA MAE LYN A. MICROBIOLOGY & PARASITOLOGY BSN1 - E

 Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis – infects the skin of frogs and presumably

interferes with gaseous exchange.
 Histoplasma capsulatum – causes pulmonary infections.
D. Protozoa
 Genus Plasmodium – can cause Malaria and this particular protozoa
carries out life cycles in both the digestive systems of mosquitos, and in
human blood cells.
 Dinoflagellates – are a group of protozoa that exist mainly as free-
swimming unicellular organisms, while other exist symbiotically within
certain invertebrates.
 Amoeba – is a protozoan that has no specific shape. It is the most
common protozoa found in fresh water.
 Euglena – is an eye-shaped freshwater protozoan. They impart the green
color to the water ponds when grown extensively.
 Paramecium – is a slipper-shaped protozoan. It has cilia all over its body
surface. These cilia help in its locomotion.
E. Worms
 Ascaris lumbricoides (threadworm) – is a common cause of intestinal
nematode infection.
 Echinococcus spp.(tapeworm) – are cestode parasites commonly known
as small tapeworms of carnivorous animals.
 Schistosoma mansoni (fluke) – is a water-borne parasite of humans, and
belongs to the group of blood flukes.
 Strongyloides stercoralis (threadworm) – is a human pathogenic parasitic
roundworm causing the disease strongyloidiasis.
 Taenia solium (tapeworm) – comes from contaminated pork.

Non-pathogens are organisms that do not cause any disease or harm to others.
These are usually bacteria because based on studies, most bacteria are non-
pathogenic.

 Lactobacillus acidophilus – a part of normal intestinal flora

MANALOTO, BEISHA MAE LYN A. MICROBIOLOGY & PARASITOLOGY BSN1 - E

 Escherichia coli – forms part of the normal flora within the large and
small intestines.
 Bifidobacteria – forms part of the normal colon flora. It is used in food
industry processes to make probiotic products.
 Bacteroids – is found within the intestines. It prevents pathogenic
bacteria from colonizing the intestines, breaks down useful nutrients and
consumes unimportant nutrients.
 Brevibacterium linens – is non-pathogenic bacteria and it's responsible
for the cheesy smell of socks and feet.