Scientist have discovered a new pathogen named Virus X. This infection causes its victims to suffer from severe diarrhea and is spreading quickly across major cities around the world. During their investigation, these researchers tracked the virus back to a population of pigs in Asia. These animals were not affected by the disease themselves but large numbers of the virus were found in their feces. In particular, when visiting one farm, scientists observed workers routinely going from taking care of the pigs to picking fruits and vegetables without washing their hands.

For this pathogen, the pig population would best be described as a..
vector
agent
reservoir
host

It wouldn't be agent because an agent is like viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths. Most people would choose the agent because a lot of virus and bacteria is found in feces, but the question is asking for what the pig population is, not Virus X

It wouldn't be vector because a vector would be a living organism that transfers infectious agents to another living organisms like ticks and mosquitoes. The pigs are not biting and infecting anybody.

It wouldn't be host because a host is an infectious agent that is directly within an organism. And inside a host, the infectious agent would actually infect the host, but in the question it states that the pigs were not infected.

The only answer left is reservoir. And the answer is reservoir because a reservoir is where an infectious agent normally lives and reproduces, like and animal, or even soil. Because of the feces that the pig population produces, Virus X is able to live and reproduce. Exactly what a reservoir does.

Therefore, the answer to this question is the pig population would best be described as a reservoir

marianaegarciaperedo marianaegarciaperedo · Answer 2 · 2021-12-31T13:00:20+01:00

The reservoir is the place -animal, plant, or surface- where the microorganism can live, survive, and reproduce. In the exposed example, the pig population would be described as a reservoir.

------------------------------------

Agent

When talking about agents we are referring to microorganisms that causes the disease.

Reservoir

The reservoir of microorganisms is the place where the agents live, survive, and reproduce.

It can be either an organism or an inert surface. It is the place outside the host.

They can or not be the source of transference to the host.

The reservoir is not affected by the agent.

When animals are reservoirs, the infectious diseases are called zoonosis. In general, zoonosis is transmitted from animal to animal, but human beings can be accidental hosts.

Host

The host is the plant or the animal where the microorganisms live and reproduce.

There are

final hosts → The animal or plant expresses the disease

→ Adult stages of the microorganism

Intermedia hosts → The animal or plant does not express the disease

→ Larvae or juvenile stages of the microorganisms

Vector

The vector is the necessary organism for the transmission of the disease.

In the exposed example, the pigs are the reservoir, because they are not affected by the disease, but viruses survive in their bodies and feces.

-----------------------------------------

You can learn more about reservoirs at

https://brainly.com/question/9438639