Reservoir

Definition

A reservoir is a habitat in which an infectious agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies. It can be living organisms or nonliving sites.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Reservoirs can be human, animal, or environmental.
2. Human reservoirs are critical for diseases that only infect humans.
3. Zoonotic diseases have animal reservoirs where the pathogen resides before infecting humans.
4. Environmental reservoirs include soil and water where pathogens can survive outside of a host.
5. Effective disease control often involves identifying and managing the reservoir.

Review Questions

• What types of reservoirs exist for infectious agents?
• Why are human reservoirs important in disease transmission?
• How do environmental reservoirs contribute to the spread of diseases?

Related terms

Carrier: An individual who harbors the pathogen but does not show symptoms, potentially spreading it to others.

Vector:

An organism, often an insect, that transmits a pathogen from one host to another.

Fomite: An inanimate object that can carry and transfer pathogens between hosts.