Difference between revisions of "Koch's postulates"
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'''Koch's postulates''' are a set of broad [[principle]]s laid out by Robert Koch in the 1880's. They are the basic criteria for determining what is and is not an infectious [[disease]] in [[plant]]s, [[animal]]s, and [[human]]s. Because they are at the level of [[philosophy]] of [[science]], they can be applied to [[Virus|viral]], [[bacteria]]l, or [[parasite]]-caused infection theories. Though aspects of the principles were not original, Robert Koch provided an experimental basis for these principles that was very convincing to the scientists of his day. | '''Koch's postulates''' are a set of broad [[principle]]s laid out by Robert Koch in the 1880's. They are the basic criteria for determining what is and is not an infectious [[disease]] in [[plant]]s, [[animal]]s, and [[human]]s. Because they are at the level of [[philosophy]] of [[science]], they can be applied to [[Virus|viral]], [[bacteria]]l, or [[parasite]]-caused infection theories. Though aspects of the principles were not original, Robert Koch provided an experimental basis for these principles that was very convincing to the scientists of his day. | ||
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| + | ==The Postulates== | ||
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| + | ===Epidemiological association=== | ||
| + | The suspected cause must be strongly associated with the disease. | ||
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| + | ===Isolation=== | ||
| + | The suspected pathogen can be isolated - and propagated - outside the host. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Transmission Pathogenesis=== | ||
| + | Transfer of the suspected pathogen to an uninfected host, man or animal, produces the disease in that host. | ||
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| + | |||
[[Category:Biology]] | [[Category:Biology]] | ||
Revision as of 20:33, January 8, 2009
Koch's postulates are a set of broad principles laid out by Robert Koch in the 1880's. They are the basic criteria for determining what is and is not an infectious disease in plants, animals, and humans. Because they are at the level of philosophy of science, they can be applied to viral, bacterial, or parasite-caused infection theories. Though aspects of the principles were not original, Robert Koch provided an experimental basis for these principles that was very convincing to the scientists of his day.
The Postulates
Epidemiological association
The suspected cause must be strongly associated with the disease.
Isolation
The suspected pathogen can be isolated - and propagated - outside the host.
Transmission Pathogenesis
Transfer of the suspected pathogen to an uninfected host, man or animal, produces the disease in that host.