Which term refers to the ability of a host to cause disease?

The term that refers to the ability of a host to cause disease is pathogenicity. Pathogenicity is the capacity of a microorganism, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, to invade a host, multiply, and cause disease. It encompasses the mechanisms that allow pathogens to cause illness, which can include factors like their ability to adhere to host tissues, evade the immune system, and produce toxins.

While virulence is often used interchangeably with pathogenicity, it specifically refers to the degree of pathogenicity or the severity of the disease caused by a pathogen. In other words, virulence is a measure of how harmful a pathogen can be, while pathogenicity is a broader concept about the capability to cause illness in general.

Immunogenicity is the ability of a substance, such as a pathogen, to provoke an immune response, and symbiosis refers to the interaction between two different organisms, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful. Therefore, the most accurate term for describing the capability of an organism to cause disease is pathogenicity.