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Most do not cause a uniform pattern of disease. The host defences are important in determining the presentation of the disease.
 
Most do not cause a uniform pattern of disease. The host defences are important in determining the presentation of the disease.
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An agent's capacity to produce disease depends upon:
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An agent's capacity to produce disease depends upon the dose and the virulence of the agent.
* The dose
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* The virulence of the agent
   
Bear in mind that several agents may be involved - often one agent debilitates, allowing others to exert a greater effect that normal within the body. The presence of an agent does not necessarily mean it is the cause of the disease! On occasions, a pathogenic agent may be absent from the tissues, due to either clinical therapy or the action of the host defence systems
 
Bear in mind that several agents may be involved - often one agent debilitates, allowing others to exert a greater effect that normal within the body. The presence of an agent does not necessarily mean it is the cause of the disease! On occasions, a pathogenic agent may be absent from the tissues, due to either clinical therapy or the action of the host defence systems
  
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