Which term describes disease-causing bacteria often spread through water or food?

• A. Bacterial pathogens
• B. Viral pathogens
• C. Parasitic pathogens
• D. Fungal pathogens

Answer: (A)

Bacteria that cause disease are called bacterial pathogens. This term identifies the agents as bacteria, single-celled microbes that can cause illness when ingested or when they multiply in the body. Many such infections spread through water or food because contaminated water or undercooked or improperly stored foods can harbor and transmit diverse bacteria like Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio cholerae. The other categories refer to different kinds of pathogens—viruses, parasites, and fungi—so they don’t match the description of disease-causing bacteria spread via water or food.