Animal Sciences - Animal Health

Disease

any state other than complete health resulting in a disruption of normal body function

Disease can be caused by

micro-organisms, parasites, injuries, or alterations of substances in the body

Symptom

any behavior a diseased animal exhibits that it outside of the norm

lesion

abnormal change in a body organ

etiology

factors that cause disease

resistance

body’s natural defense (includes immune systems, behavior, physical barriers)

Predisposed

having a tendency or susceptibility to disease

Direct cause of disease

exposure to a disease-causing agent

pathogen

organism that causes disease

pathogenicity/virulence

ability of an organism to cause disease

contagious

capability to be transmitted between animals

clinical disease

symptoms are apparent

subclinical disease

symptoms are not readily apparent (asymptomatic)

acute

sudden onset, often with sudden recovery or death

chronic

develops slowly, may be minor early on, often lengthy

diagnosis

process of detecting, identifying disease through history, clinical examination, and specimen collection for laboratory tests

antibodies

blood proteins that recognize and attack infectious agents

passive immunity

received by a neonate from transfer of maternal antibodies before or soon after birth

active immunity

acquired by exposure or vaccination to a disease

zoonotic

passed between animals and humans

signs of health in animals

bright alert eyes, clean tail, good coat, navel not swollen, hot, or hard, even breathing, no discharge from nose, no coughing, healthy appetite