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Disease Reservoirs MeSH Descriptor Data 2026


MeSH Heading
Disease Reservoirs
Tree Number(s)
N06.850.520.203.250
Unique ID
D004197
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D004197
Annotation
differentiate from DISEASE VECTORS: reservoirs can be animate or inanimate (like swamps, housedust, etc.)
Scope Note
Animate or inanimate sources which normally harbor disease-causing organisms and thus serve as potential sources of disease outbreaks. Reservoirs are distinguished from vectors (DISEASE VECTORS) and carriers, which are agents of disease transmission rather than continuing sources of potential disease outbreaks. Humans may serve both as disease reservoirs and carriers.
Entry Version
DIS RESERVOIRS
Entry Term(s)
Disease Reservoir
Human Disease Reservoirs
Infectious Disease Reservoir
Infectious Disease Reservoirs
Reservoirs of Infection
NLM Classification #
WA 106
See Also
Disease Vectors
Zoonoses
Public MeSH Note
67
History Note
67(65)
Date Introduced
1967/01/01
Last Updated
2020/06/17
Disease Reservoirs Preferred
Reservoirs of Infection Narrower
Human Disease Reservoirs Narrower
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