Chapter 28, Problem 1RQ

Summary Introduction

To review:

The importance of identification of the genus and species of a pathogen.

Introduction:

A genus is a biological classification of an organism and also a taxonomical rank. Genus resides above the species in the hierarchial classification. Taxonomy is the field of science that classifies or characterizes all living organisms in various categories according to their features.

Explanation of Solution

Various reasons to identify the genus and species of the pathogen before treating them include antibiotic resistance, pathogen-specific disease complication, and tracking the spread of the disease. These are described as follows:

Antibiotic resistance: Certain antigens show resistance to the antibiotics given and this is one of the major problems in treating the infection or disease. Hence, knowledge about the genus and species of a pathogen gives an idea about which antibiotics are effective and which are not.

Pathogen-specific disease complication: Certain pathogens even after treatment would show some complications. For example, strains of Streptococcus pyogenes would cause sore throat in children. After treatment, heart and kidney problems may arise. The pathogen can be eliminated when the strain is known.

Tracking the spread of the disease: When a disease is spreading in a place and the same strain is found in all the affected persons, this implies the fact that all the strains have originated from the same source. The identification of genus or species of the disease-causing pathogen may help in providing treatment accordingly.