Impact of plant diseases on human life

Plant diseases have always been a challenge to plant growth and crop production in
several parts of the world. Plant diseases can affect plants by interfering with several processes
such as the absorbance and translocation of water and nutrients, photosynthesis, flower and fruit
development, plant growth and development and cell division and enlargement. Plant diseases
can be caused by different types of fungi, bacteria, phytoplasma, viruses, viroids, nematodes and
other agents.

Plant diseases are well known to reduce the food available to humans by ultimately
interfering with crop yields. This can result in inadequate food to humans or lead to starvation
and death in the worst cases. For example, late blight disease of potato, which is caused
by Phytophthora infestans, destroyed potatoes which were the main crop in Ireland during 1845–
1850. This resulted in the Great Famine (or Great Hunger), where about one million people died
and another million emigrated to Canada, the USA and other countries.

One of the most common ways by which plant diseases can affect humans is through the
secretion of toxic metabolites ’mycotoxins’ by fungi infecting plant products. Although the fungi
producing these mycotoxins infect plants but not humans, these mycotoxins can have direct
effects on humans and animals, resulting in diseases and death. Examples of fungal species
producing mycotoxins include Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Aflatoxin B1 is one
of the most serious mycotoxins, because it is lethal at high doses and is carcinogenic to humans
at low doses and can result in reduced liver function, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Impact of animal diseases on human life

Animal diseases can have a large economic and social effect. The diseases which cause
the most concern are those which are highly contagious, could cause high fatality rates amongst
livestock, have the possibility of infecting humans, or are not currently present in the United
Kingdom. Non-zoonotic diseases are those that are not generally considered to be transmitted to
humans. While zoonotic notifiable animal diseases are those that can be transmitted naturally
between vertebrate animals and humans.
There have been over 14 exotic disease outbreaks in the last 10 years including foot and
mouth disease, avian influenza (bird flu) and bluetongue.

Impact of Animal Diseases

Animal diseases can have a large impact on an area. Some of the repercussions are:

 Damage to local agricultural economy.

 Mass cull / disposal of animal carcasses.

 Loss of livelihoods for farmers and farm workers.

 Health risks to farm workers.

Consequences of Animal Diseases

Some of the consequences of animal diseases are:

 Long term psychological health impacts to farmers.

 Increased food costs to consumers.

 Knock on effect on tourism and other service industries, such as catering.

 Damage to businesses that can never be repaired.

Definitions

 Health

The state of being bodily and mentally vigorous and free from disease

 Disease

An abnormal condition of a part, organ, or system of an organism resulting from various causes,
such as infection,inflammation, environmental factors, or genetic defect, and characterized by an
identifiable group of signs, symptoms or both.

 Treatment

The application of medicines, surgery, psychotherapy, etc, to a patient or to a disease

or symptom

 Control

To reduce or prevent the spread of

 Vector

An organism, espicially an insect, which carries a disease-producing micro-organism

from one host to another, either within or on the surface of its body

 Signs

An objective indication of some medical fact or characteristic that may be detected by a patient
or anyone, especially a physician, before or during a physical examination of a patient

 Symptoms

An indication of a disorder or disease, especially a subjective one such as pain, nausea, or

weakness
Pathogenic Diseases
A pathogen is a biological agent, or germ, that causes disease to its host by interrupting normal
body processes. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are all common types of pathogens that can
cause pathogenic, or infectious, diseases. These pathogens can be found in the air, soil and water,
and infection can occur as a result of touching, eating or drinking something that is infected with
a germ.

Not all pathogenic diseases can be cured. Those caused by the malaria parasite can be
controlled but not totally cured. HIV is another one that can be controlled but not cured.
Influenza which is caused by a variety of viruses can be cured due to the body’s accumulation of
antibodies and memory cells to keep those infectious strains at bay. Most pathogenic diseases
such as HIV are usually able to be treated with a course of antibiotics and different creams and
medicines

Deficiency Diseases
These are diseases that are caused by a dietary deficiency of specific nutrients, especially a
vitamin or mineral, possibly stemming from insufficient intake, digestion, absorption, or
utilization of a nutrient.

The first disease to be directly linked to a vitamin deficiency was scurvy. Scurvy is
characterized by general malaise and lethargy, progressing on to spotty skin, losing teeth, and
bleeding and swollen gums. Slow wound healing and general weakness is also a regular
symptom. It is cause from an insufficient intake of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. Humans cannot
synthesize vitamin C. It needs to come from external sources, especially fruits and vegetables, or
fortified foods. If left untreated scurvy can be fatal. Treatment of scurvy involves administering
vitamin C supplements by mouth or by injection.

Hereditary Diseases
These are disorders or diseases that are inherited genetically. They are also known as genetic
disorders or inherited diseases and may be passed on within the family if there is a mutant gene
present.
Hereditary diseases are caused by a mutation in a single gene. The mutation may be
present on one or both chromosomes (one chromosome inherited from each parent). Examples of
hereditary diseases are: sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, polycystic kidney disease, and Tay-
Sachs disease. Many genetic disorders result from gene changes that are present in essentially
every cell in the body. As a result, these disorders often affect many body systems, and most
cannot be cured. However, approaches may be available to treat or manage some of the
associated signs and symptoms.
For example, a genetic disorder associated with a heart defect might be treated with
surgery to repair the defect or with a heart transplant. Conditions that are characterized by
defective blood cell formation, such as sickle cell disease, can sometimes be treated with a bone
marrow transplant.
Physiological Diseases
Physiological disease is a disease in which the organs or systems in the body malfunction
causing illness. Some examples of physiological diseases are asthma, hypertension, diabetes,
glaucoma, and strokes. Some of the common diseases include Diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, and
Cardiovascular problems.

This disease normally caused when the normal or proper functioning of the body is
affected because of the body’s organs has malfunctioned. It could also be because organs are not
working or the actual cellular structures have changed over a period of time and then causing
illness. The factors that cause physiological disease may be of genetic origin. It can be also
caused due to the deficiencies caused by an improper intake of diet.

A physiological disease related to the absorption, distribution, and storage of iron is

called Hemochromatosis. This physiological disease is treated with the help of either therapeutic
removal of the blood from the system or with the help of drugs which help in the absorption of
iron. The best way to increase the absorption of iron is to pair it up with foods such as chicken,
foods rich in vitamin C and also with the help of heavy cream.