Natural reservoir

Natural reservoir or reservoir of infection is the long-term host of the pathogen of an infectious disease. Hosts often do not get the disease carried by the pathogen or it is carried as a subclinical infection and so asymptomatic. The reservoir acts as a source from which others can be infected.

Types of Reservoirs

There are three types of reservoirs: human, animal, and environmental.

Human Reservoirs

Human reservoirs are people who are infected with a particular pathogen and can transmit the disease to others. These individuals may be symptomatic, showing signs of the disease, or asymptomatic, showing no signs of the disease.

Animal Reservoirs

Animal reservoirs are animals that are infected with a particular pathogen and can transmit the disease to humans. This is often seen in zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Environmental Reservoirs

Environmental reservoirs are physical locations or objects that harbor the pathogen and can transmit the disease to humans. These can include soil, water, and air.

Role in Disease Transmission

The natural reservoir plays a critical role in the transmission of infectious diseases. The pathogen relies on the reservoir for survival and reproduction. The reservoir also provides a means for the pathogen to be transmitted to new hosts.

Examples of Natural Reservoirs

Some examples of natural reservoirs include:

• Humans are the natural reservoir for diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.
• Animals are the natural reservoir for diseases such as rabies and Lyme disease.
• The environment is the natural reservoir for diseases such as Legionnaires' disease and tetanus.

See Also

• Zoonosis
• Vector (epidemiology)
• Infectious disease