Tank (epidemiology)

In epidemiology or Infectiologie, a species tank of a pathogenic organization (Virus, Bacterium), is the species in which this proliferous organization in a dominating way. Most of the time, this species tank does not suffer from the infection, following long a Co-evolution. Sometimes, the pathogenic one causes well a disease, but benign or sufficiently slow to be transmitted.

This concept is to be brought closer to that of final host of a Parasite, but does not comprise concept of cycle of reproduction: the life of pathogenic is the same one in the tank as in the occasional host; it generally starts more important symptoms there. Contrary to the final host, the disappearance of the species tank inevitably does not imply the disappearance of the pathogenic one.

In certain cases, the Man is the single species tank of an organization, and this organization does not contaminate any other animal: it is the case not example for the Virus of the Hépatite B. It is this characteristic which makes a candidate with the eradication of it.

On the other hand, in other cases, the human being is not tank, but occasional host. One can then nothing envisage occurred of epidemic as long as the host tank is not identified. Thus, certain tanks it are very monitored: it is the case of the birds, and particularly of the ducks, which are tanks many forms of virus of the Grippe.

See too

Avian flu

Source

Site of WHO.

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