Disease causative agent
Encyclopedia
The term disease causative agent usually refers to a biological agents pathogen
that causes a disease. Technically, the term can also refer to a toxin
or toxic
chemical that causes illness such as parasites or bacteria.
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
that causes a disease. Technically, the term can also refer to a toxin
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
or toxic
Toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
chemical that causes illness such as parasites or bacteria.