nosiciel

Nosiciel is a term used in Polish to denote an organism or person that carries another biological agent or genetic trait without necessarily showing symptoms. The word derives from nosić, meaning “to carry,” with the agentive suffix -iciel, yielding “one who carries.” In epidemiology, a nosiciel can be an asymptomatic carrier of a pathogen who may shed the agent and contribute to transmission.

In infectious disease contexts, nosiciele include individuals who harbor bacteria or viruses without manifesting disease, thereby potentially sustaining transmission chains. The concept is used for both human and animal populations, where a carrier state can persist after apparent recovery or coexist with latent infections.

In genetics, nosiciel describes a person who carries a recessive allele or mutation associated with a hereditary disorder but does not develop the condition themselves. Such carriers can pass the allele to offspring, who may manifest the disorder if they inherit another copy.

Public health and genetics programs use the concept of nosiciel to assess risk, inform screening, and provide genetic counseling. Identifying carriers helps estimate carrier frequencies in populations and supports reproductive decision-making, while emphasizing that carrying a trait does not always lead to disease for the carrier themselves.

See also: carrier, asymptomatic carrier, latent infection, vector.