Editing Pathology (section)

==Non-humans==
[[File:Enzootic pneumonia ewe.jpg|thumb|185px|This field [[post-mortem]] of a [[Sheep|ewe]] has revealed [[lesions]] consistent with acute [[haemolytic]] [[pneumonia]], possibly due to ''Pasteurella haemolytica''.]]
Although the vast majority of lab work and research in pathology concerns the development of disease in humans, pathology is of significance throughout the biological sciences. Two main catch-all fields exist to represent most complex organisms capable of serving as host to a pathogen or other form of disease: veterinary pathology (concerned with all non-human species of [[Kingdom (biology)|kingdom]] of [[Animalia]]) and [[phytopathology]], which studies disease in plants.

===Veterinary pathology===
{{Main|Veterinary pathology|Animal testing}}

Veterinary pathology covers a vast array of species, but with a significantly smaller number of practitioners, so understanding of disease in non-human animals, especially as regards [[veterinarian|veterinary practice]],  varies considerably by species.  Nevertheless, significant amounts of pathology research are conducted on animals, for two primary reasons: 1) The origins of diseases are typically [[zoonotic]] in nature, and many infectious pathogens have animal vectors and, as such, understanding the mechanisms of action for these pathogens in non-human hosts is essential to the understanding and application of [[epidemiology]] and 2) those animals that share physiological and genetic traits with humans can be used as surrogates for the study of the disease and potential treatments<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acvp.org/public/WhatIsVetPath.cfm |title=American College of Veterinary Pathologists &#124; for the Public |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024125740/http://www.acvp.org/public/WhatIsVetPath.cfm |archive-date=October 24, 2013 }}</ref> as well as the effects of various synthetic products. For this reason, as well as their roles as [[livestock]] and [[companion animals]], [[mammals]] generally have the largest body of research in veterinary pathology. Animal testing remains a controversial practice, even in cases where it is used to research treatment for human disease.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rollin |first1=Bernard E. |title=The Regulation of Animal Research and the Emergence of Animal Ethics: A Conceptual History |journal=Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics |volume=27 |pages=285–304 |date=2006 |doi=10.1007/s11017-006-9007-8 |pmid=16937023 |issue=4 |s2cid=18620094 |url=https://org.uib.no/dyreavd/handouts/Rollin__B._2006._Animal_Research_Regulation_in_Theoret._Medicin_....PDF |access-date=2019-12-17 |archive-date=2020-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008152801/https://org.uib.no/dyreavd/handouts/Rollin__B._2006._Animal_Research_Regulation_in_Theoret._Medicin_....PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref>  As in human medical pathology, the practice of veterinary pathology is customarily divided into the two main fields of anatomical and clinical pathology.

[[File:Tobacco mosaic virus symptoms tobacco.jpg|thumb|right|195px|A [[tobacco plant]] infected with the [[tobacco mosaic virus]]]]

===Plant pathology===
{{Main|Plant pathology}}

Although the pathogens and their mechanics differ greatly from those of animals, plants are subject to a wide variety of diseases, including those caused by [[fungi]], [[oomycete]]s, [[bacteria]], [[virus]]es, [[viroid]]s, virus-like organisms, [[phytoplasma]]s, [[protozoa]], [[nematode]]s and [[parasitic plant]]s.  Damage caused by [[insects]], [[mite]]s, [[vertebrate]], and other small herbivores is not considered a part of the domain of plant pathology. The field is connected to [[plant disease epidemiology]] and especially concerned with the [[horticulture]] of species that are of high importance to the [[human diet]] or other human utility.