Introduction to Animal Health & Breeding Disease

These flashcards cover key concepts related to animal health, breeding, disease, genetics, and immunity.

Disease

Any state other than a state of complete health, where the normal function of the body is changed or disturbed.

Clinical Sign

The symptom the animal exhibits that is different from the normal function.

Pathology

The study of the essential nature of disease.

Etiology

The study of the cause of disease.

Pathogen

Any living disease-producing agent.

Predisposing Factor

Any condition which causes an animal to be susceptible or prone to disease.

Exposure

The contact of an animal with a pathogen or substance that can cause a decrease in the animal’s health.

Resistance

The natural ability of an animal to remain unaffected by pathogens, toxins, irritants, or poisons.

Diagnosis

The process of determining the nature and severity of a disease.

Differential Diagnosis

Steps used to identify the disease responsible for the animal’s clinical signs.

Surface Barriers

The first line of defense outside of the body to prevent pathogens from entering.

Innate Immunity

The body’s internal defense against pathogens if they can enter the body despite surface barriers.

Adaptive Immunity

Defense that allows the body to recognize infections previously encountered, providing a faster and stronger response.

Vaccination

Inoculation that causes an animal’s immune system to develop adaptive immunity against a pathogen.

Colostrum

Antibodies transferred to an animal from its mother providing protection against pathogens.

Herd Health Program

A comprehensive and herd-specific program of health management practices.

All-in-All-out System

Management program where all animals are added to a facility at the same time and removed at the same time.

Genetics

The study of how the characteristics of living things are controlled by genes.

Gene

A component of DNA that controls the development of one or more traits.

Inheritance

The method by which genes are passed from one generation to the next.

Sex Determination in Mammals

In mammals, the sex of the offspring is determined by the male.

Sex Determination in Avians

In avians, the sex of the offspring is determined by the female.

Co-dominance

When neither allele masks the other and both are expressed.

Incomplete Dominance

One allele doesn’t completely mask the other, resulting in an intermediate phenotype.

Inbreeding

The mating of closely related individuals.

Linebreeding

A form of inbreeding that keeps the relationship of an individual close to an outstanding ancestor.

Outcrossing

The mating of less closely related individuals compared to the average of the population.

Crossbreeding

The mating of animals of diverse genetic backgrounds within the same species.

Hybridization

The mating of animals of different but related species.