Diseases Caused By Microorganisms

Diseases Caused by Microorganisms in Animals

Some diseases caused by microbes with their causative agaent are listed below:

Diseases Caused by Microorganisms in Plants

Some diseases caused by microbes in plants are listed below:

Food Spoilage by Microorganisms

Microorganisms can grow on food and change the physical and chemical properties of the food in such a way that they become inedible. Some points on food spoilage are listed below:

• Food spoilage is caused by bacteria, and fungi majorly breaking down food components altering their flavour, and odour, causing discolouration, sliminess, and by producing gas.
• Techniques such as proper food handling, storage, and processing are crucial for preventing microbial spoilage.
• Quality control (QC) measures such as regular testing for contamination of food and water and maintaining sanitary conditions are essential to prevent food spoilage.
• Microbial spoilage may pose health risks due to the production of toxins and the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and it also leads to economic loses of the food raising concern about the food security.
• Implementing a set of rules known as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems is crucial in managing microbial spoilage effectively.

Microorganisms are microscopic life forms that are ubiquitous. They can be unicellular or multicellular and are beneficial to humankind, but they can be harmful as well. Microbes can be beneficial as they play diverse roles in nutrient cycling, food fermentation, antibiotic production, and many more.

On the other hand, they are also responsible for causing diseases in humans and animals, food spoilage, and posing environmental challenges. Microorganism examples are bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi.