Which virus is an example of being pathogenic but not virulent?

Prepare for the Introduction to Epidemiology and Concepts of Infectious Disease Test with detailed study materials and multiple-choice questions. Arm yourself with knowledge and insights to excel in infectious disease diagnostics.

Multiple Choice

Which virus is an example of being pathogenic but not virulent?

Explanation:
Pathogenicity is the ability of a microbe to cause disease in a host, while virulence refers to how severe that disease is. Rhinovirus can cause illness in people (the common cold), so it is pathogenic. However, the illnesses it produces are typically mild and self-limited, indicating low virulence. The other viruses listed can cause very severe disease in many cases—rabies and Ebola have high case-fatality and dramatic illness, and influenza A can be highly virulent in certain strains and populations—so they are not examples of being pathogenic but not virulent.

Pathogenicity is the ability of a microbe to cause disease in a host, while virulence refers to how severe that disease is. Rhinovirus can cause illness in people (the common cold), so it is pathogenic. However, the illnesses it produces are typically mild and self-limited, indicating low virulence. The other viruses listed can cause very severe disease in many cases—rabies and Ebola have high case-fatality and dramatic illness, and influenza A can be highly virulent in certain strains and populations—so they are not examples of being pathogenic but not virulent.

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