Which term describes an agent capable of causing serious disease?

Which term describes an agent capable of causing serious disease?

• A. Benign
• B. Virulent
• C. Opportunistic
• D. Nonpathogenic

Answer: (B)

Virulence is the measure of how capable a pathogen is at causing disease and how severe that disease can be. An agent described as virulent has a high potential to cause illness, often serious or severe, which is why it’s the best fit for an organism that can lead to serious disease. Benign means not harmful or not disease-causing. Opportunistic describes organisms that typically cause disease only in people with weakened defenses, so they don’t inherently indicate a capacity for serious disease in a healthy host. Nonpathogenic means it does not cause disease at all. So virulent correctly conveys the ability to produce serious illness.

Virulence is the measure of how capable a pathogen is at causing disease and how severe that disease can be. An agent described as virulent has a high potential to cause illness, often serious or severe, which is why it’s the best fit for an organism that can lead to serious disease. Benign means not harmful or not disease-causing. Opportunistic describes organisms that typically cause disease only in people with weakened defenses, so they don’t inherently indicate a capacity for serious disease in a healthy host. Nonpathogenic means it does not cause disease at all. So virulent correctly conveys the ability to produce serious illness.