Modes of Infection


Modes of Infection / Transmission of Some Biohazardous Agents:
  • some examples; not an exhaustive list;
  • additional suggestions welcome
  • some organisms can infect people via more than one route
1. Ingestion:
  • E. coli (gastroenteritis)
  • Salmonella spp. (gastroenteritis)
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosum (tuberculosis)
  • Campylobacter spp.
  • Ecinococcus spp. (tapeworms)
  • Giardia lamblia. (Beaver fever)

2. Respiratory Route:

  • Staphylococcus aureus (laryingitis)
  • Streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat)
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcal pneumonia)
  • Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria)
  • Influenza virus (influenza)
  • Mumps virus (mumps)
  • Varicella virus (chicken pox)
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosum (tuberculosis)

3. Mucous membranes / inoculation / animal bites:

  • rabies virus (rabies)
  • Clostridium tetani (tetanus)
  • Treponema pallidum (syphilis)
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhea)
  • Bacilus anthracis (anthrax)
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosum (tuberculosis)
  • Influenza virus (influenza)
  • HIV
  • Borrelia burgdorfei (Lyme disease, tick transmission)
  • Q-fever (domestic livestock)
  • Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis)

A selection of MSDSs including some for these and other organisms is available in a binder in the MSDS filing cabinet near CW468 in the Biological Sciences Building. Other MSDSs available from Government of Canada Population and Public Health Branch (PPHB); formerly the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (LCDC):