Disease Causative Agents

The ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and Western Blot tests are the primary diagnostic tests for HIV/AIDS. ELISA screens for HIV antibodies, and Western Blot confirms the positive results. These are not standard tests for cancer, leprosy, or meningitis diagnosis.

Influenza (flu) is caused by the influenza virus, not bacteria or other pathogens. The virus attacks the respiratory system. Fungi cause different infections, and amoebae are protozoa causing diseases like amoebic dysentery.

Measles is caused by the measles virus, a highly contagious RNA virus. It causes fever, rash, and respiratory symptoms. Like influenza, it is viral in origin, not bacterial, fungal, or protozoan.

Cirrhosis is late-stage liver disease where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, impairing liver function. It affects the liver specifically. Heart disease affects the cardiovascular system, lungs handle respiration, and skin is the body's protective barrier.

The person was affected with amoebic dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica.

Chaga's disease (Chagas disease) is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted by triatomine bugs (kissing bugs). Trypanosoma gambiense causes African sleeping sickness, while the spelling 'trypanosoma bruci' appears to be a misspelling of Trypanosoma brucei.

Septicemia is the presence of bacteria or their toxins in the bloodstream, commonly referred to as blood poisoning. It is a serious systemic infection that can lead to sepsis and septic shock. It is not food poisoning (which is gastrointestinal) or a mental disorder.

Influenza has caused several pandemics throughout history, including the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, 1957 Asian flu, 1968 Hong Kong flu, and 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Amoebic dysentery, Hepatitis, and Filariasis are important diseases but are classified as endemic or epidemic, not pandemic.

Poliovirus is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, primarily via contaminated food and water. It is not transmitted through mosquito or tick bites (those are vectors for other diseases), nor through saliva and nasal secretions. Proper sanitation and vaccination have been crucial in polio eradication efforts.

Botulism is a serious illness caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. E. coli causes food poisoning, Pseudomonas causes various infections, and Salmonella causes typhoid and food poisoning, but none produce the neurotoxin that causes botulism.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease transmitted through the bite of infected animals, most commonly dogs. The virus affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal if untreated. Diphtheria, smallpox, and malaria are transmitted through different vectors (airborne, contact, and mosquitoes respectively).

Oscillatoria is blue-green in colour, usually free-floating or entwined with other algae. It is widespread. There are approximately 150 known species of which 47 are known to occur in Australia. Some species causes contact irritation leading to severe dermatitis.

Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria and is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, often via contaminated food or water. Houseflies can act as mechanical vectors, carrying the bacteria from fecal matter to food.

Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, most commonly through dog bites. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and is fatal if untreated. Beri-Beri is caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, malaria by mosquito-borne parasite, and rickets by vitamin D deficiency.

Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacillus and pili are absent in Gram-positive bacteria. They possess pili-like proteins or Type 4 pilins which assemble into pili (long polymeric fibers that function in bacterial adhesion and motility).