PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Reservoir. The reservoir of an infectious agent is the habitat in which the agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies. Reservoirs include humans, animals, and the environment.

Detailed explanation-2: -Environmental reservoirs include living and non-living reservoirs that harbor infectious pathogens outside the bodies of animals. These reservoirs may exist on land (plants and soil), in water, or in the air. Pathogens found in these reservoirs are sometimes free-living.

Detailed explanation-3: -Sources or reservoir: A source of infection is defined as the person, animal, objects or substance from which an infectious agent passes or is disseminated to the host. Reservoirs are sites in which viable infectious agents remain alive and from which infection of individuals may occur.

Detailed explanation-4: -For pathogens to persist over long periods of time they require reservoirs where they normally reside. Reservoirs can be living organisms or nonliving sites. Nonliving reservoirs can include soil and water in the environment. These may naturally harbor the organism because it may grow in that environment.