Definition of Term

carrier

(English) An individual harboring specific organism(s) which cause a disease often or usually without indication of signs of the disease. Also, an infectious animal harbouring a specific infectious agent and serving as a potential source of infection to the rest of the population (stock). Also, an organism harbouring a pathogenic agent. The carrying can be active (infection) or passive (merely mechanical, without any multiplication of the pathogen). It can be transitory (notably if it is passive), or very long (chronical carrier). The carrier can be excretory (permanent or occasional), or not (the pathogenic agent remains in the tissues).

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