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02 Feb 2026, 08:27
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I could not understand how this highlighted part emphasizes how widespread a disease is in a population. I think the figure "80%" indicates how widespread a disease is in a population but the “anti-mycoplasma antibodies” does not indicate it. Please explain.
Sajjad1994
miag
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Expert reply
03 Feb 2026, 19:15
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Hi,
That's a great question. You’re right that the 80% shows how widespread the disease is. The reason the author also mentions anti-mycoplasma antibodies is to explain how scientists know that those tortoises had the disease.
Antibodies are evidence of prior exposure to a pathogen, even if an animal isn’t visibly sick. So saying that 80% had anti-mycoplasma antibodies means that most of the captive tortoise population had been exposed to URTD, which makes the disease widespread in that group.
In other words:
Hope this helps!
That's a great question. You’re right that the 80% shows how widespread the disease is. The reason the author also mentions anti-mycoplasma antibodies is to explain how scientists know that those tortoises had the disease.
Antibodies are evidence of prior exposure to a pathogen, even if an animal isn’t visibly sick. So saying that 80% had anti-mycoplasma antibodies means that most of the captive tortoise population had been exposed to URTD, which makes the disease widespread in that group.
In other words:
- Antibodies = proof of exposure
- 80% = extent of exposure
Hope this helps!
kartickdey
04 Feb 2026, 08:38
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that is crystal clear. My problem is that the entire portion should be highlighted in that case as you have rightly mentioned that together they emphasize. Thanks for your response.
miag
