Pathogenic bacteria cause three types of foodborne illness:
*Infection
*Intoxication or poisoning
*Toxin-mediated infection
The term "infection" has some exceptions. For example, the normal growth of the usual bacterial flora in the intestinal tract is not usually considered an infection. The same consideration applies to the bacteria that normally inhabit the mouth.
Food infection is foodborne illness resulting from ingestion of food containing large numbers of living bacteria or other microorganism.
About 80% of bacterial foodborne illness are due to food infections.
Protozoa are minute unicellular animals responsible for the disease such as malaria and amebic dysentery. Transmission of protozoa may be from human to human through contaminated water or food.
The chain of infection includes virulence of the pathogen, transmission to the host, and entry into the host. Once these conditions are met, the pathogens can cause an infection.
Ingestion of contaminated food and water is also responsible for introducing a wide variety of pathogens into the body, including those responsible for hepatitis.
Typhoid fever also is a bacterial infection transmitted throughout contaminated food and water.
Food and waterborne disease are one of the major causes of illness to travelers, the most frequent being diarrhea. It can be caused by virus, bacteria or parasites which are found universally throughout the region.
Infection by food
