VF: systems (general terms)

mainly week 1

Ante-Mortem inspection

Examination of animals before they are slaughtered to identify any signs of disease that might affect food safety

Antimicrobial resistance

When infectious agents such as bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill them; resistant infections are difficult to treat

Federal Slaughter facility

A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)- APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)-approved facility where animals are slaughtered and processed for meat

Food defense

The protection of food products from contamination or adulteration intended to cause public health harm or economic disruption

Food safety

The protection of food products from unintentional contamination

Food security

When all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for a healthy life

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points)

A systematic approach to food safety that identifies and addresses potential microbial hazards in the production process

Humane handling

The treatment of animals with respect and consideration for their welfare

Lesion

A change in the normal structure or function of body tissues

Meat Inspection Act

Federal laws and regulations that govern the inspection of meat products in the United States

Official Public Health Veterinarian (PHV)

A veterinarian employed by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) to inspect meat and poultry products for safety and wholesomeness

Post-mortem Inspection

An inspection of slaughtered animals to identify any diseases or conditions that may make the meat unfit for human consumption

Processing

The steps involved in preparing meat products for human consumption, such as slaughtering, dressing, chilling, and packaging

Residue

The presence of a drug or its metabolites in animal tissues or fluids

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)

The division of the USDA responsible for protecting the health of animals and plants

USDA FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service)

The agency within the USDA responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products

US (United States)-FDA (Food & Drug Administration)

The federal agency that sets the acceptable levels of antimicrobials (residues INSIDE the body) allowed in meat and regulates Pet food production (in charge of SHELL eggs, seafood, & milk)

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

The federal agency that enforces environmental regulations to protect the public health (in charge of topicals/pesticides OUTSIDE of the body)

CDC (Centers for Disease Prevention & Control)

The federal agency responsible for the protection of human health

Case

An animal or human in a population or study group that has a particular disease, health disorder, or condition under investigation

Case definition

A set of uniform criteria used to define a case or instance of disease for public health surveillance

Cause

A factor that directly influences the occurrence of disease

Disease

Illness, or loss of health

Reportable disease

A disease that is reported to the relevant health departments when an animal or person is diagnosed with a particular disease

Endemic (human population)/Enzootic (Animal population)

The constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographic area or population group (ex: WNV, lymphoma)

Epidemic (human population)/Epizootic (animal population)

The occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group over a particular period of time. Note: OUTBREAK (ex: Ebola, HPAI H5N1)

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems

Herd immunity

The indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population (animal or human), is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection

Host

An animal or person that can be infected by an infectious agent

Incubation period

The time interval between when an animal or a person is exposed to an infectious agent and when they begin to develop symptoms

Infection

The invasion and growth of organisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi) in the body that can cause disease

Epidemiological studies

Observational studies, in which one observes the course of a disease and clinical trials, which are used to evaluate preventive or therapeutic interventions

Pandemic (human population)/Panzootic (animal population)

An epidemic occurs over a very wide area (several countries) and usually affects a large proportion of the population (ex: SARS-COV-2)

Reservoir

The habitat in which an infectious agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies; reservoirs include human reservoirs, animal reservoirs, and environmental reservoirs

Sample

A selected subset of a population

Screening test

Tests are conducted for the purpose of identifying a disease in an animal or a person who does not currently have signs or symptoms of the disease

Surveillance

The systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination (C.A.I.D.) of health data on an ongoing basis, to gain knowledge of the pattern of disease occurrence and potential in a community, in order to control and prevent disease in the community

Transmission of infection

The process by which an infectious agent is spread to a susceptible host

Zoonosis

any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans

Infectious agent

The agent that causes infection and/or disease including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths

Horizontal: direct transmission

The transfer of the infectious agent through an intermediate biological host or can be food-borne, water-borne, via transfusions or aerosol transmission (large distances)

Vector

A living organism (usually arthropod) that carries an agent from a reservoir to a susceptible host

-Arthropods which act as vectors include houseflies, mosquitoes, lice and ticks

Vertical transmission

Transmission via infection of the embryo or foetus while in utero (mammals) or in ovo (birds, reptiles, amphibia, fish, arthropods)

-Like a family tree (up & down)

Airborne or aerosol transmission

Inhalation of small respiratory droplets (typically <5 μm) that travel large distances (example: Coxiella burnetii., SARS CoV-2)

Droplet

Inhalation of large droplets (diameter > 5 μm) that travel shorter distances than aerosols (example: SARS CoV-2 & Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

Reservoir host

In which an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies, and is thus a common source of infection to other animals (example: Cattle as reservoirs for Bluetongue virus, Birds as reservoirs for WNV, EEE)

Amplifier host

Host animals, such as pigs (JEV), that can become infected with the virus and produce a higher viral load, potentially leading to increased transmission to other hosts, including humans

Incidental host/Dead-end hosts (also sometimes termed accidental host)

Host animals, like humans and horses, that do not support significant replication of the agent or concentration in their bloodstream, making them unlikely sources of further transmission; these are hosts that are not integral to the infectious agents' transmission cycle

Biosecurity

set of management and physical measures designed to reduce the risk of introduction, establishment and spread of animal diseases, infections or infestations to, from and within an animal population

Chain of infection

the process by which an infectious agent leaves the reservoir or source via a portal of exit and the mode of transmission to reach the portal of entry of a susceptible host

Disease control

the reduction of the morbidity and mortality from disease

Disease prevention (primary prevention)

prevent initial development of disease

-example: vaccines, good pasture for livestock

Disease prevention (secondary prevention)

the early detection of existing disease to reduce the impact of the disease

-example: TB skin tests to remove reactors from herd, heartworm testing in dogs

Disease prevention (tertiary prevention)

measures taken to reduce the impact of disease

-example: nutritional changes for metabolic conditions, improved housing for animals with lameness

Disinfection

the application, after thorough cleansing, of procedures intended to destroy the infectious or parasitic agents of animal diseases, including zoonoses; this applies to premises, vehicles and different objects which may have been directly or indirectly contaminated

Emerging disease

a new occurrence in an animal of a disease, infection or infestation, causing a significant impact on animal or public health resulting from:

• a change of a known pathogenic agent or its spread to a new geographic area or species; or

• a previously unrecognized pathogenic agent or disease diagnosed for the first time

Eradication

the elimination of a pathogenic agent from a country or zone (smallpox is only one)

Euthanasia

the act of inducing death using a method that causes a rapid and irreversible loss of consciousness with minimum pain and distress to animal

Exposure

contact with something that is a health hazard or may affect health

Fomites

inanimate objects that are a mode of transmission of infectious agents

Hazard

a biological, chemical or physical agent in, or a condition of, an animal or animal product with the potential to cause an adverse health effect

Incidence

the number of new cases of a disease that occur in a population at risk in a particular geographical area within a defined time interval

Infective period

the longest period during which an affected animal can be a source of infection

Infestation

the external invasion or colonization of animals or their immediate surroundings by arthropods, which may cause clinical signs or are potential vectors of pathogenic agents (fly infestation)

International trade

importation, exportation and transit of commodities

Isolation

sick and separate (CFSPH): the separation of sick animals (e.g. with diarrhea, cough) in an isolation area away from healthy animals

Mode of transmission

how the infectious agent moves from the reservoir or source to a susceptible host either directly or indirectly

Monitoring

the intermittent performance and analysis of routine measurements and observations, aimed at detecting changes in the environment or health status of a population

Notifiable diseases

a disease listed by the Veterinary Authority, and that, as soon as detected or suspected, should be brought to the attention of this Authority, in accordance with national regulations

Portal of Entry

body part or opening where an infectious agent gains entry into the body (mouth, respiratory tract, eyes, urinary tract, skin)

Portal of Exit

how the agent leaves the reservoir. This can occur via saliva, feces, urine, blood, skin, mucus membranes

Prevalence

the total number of cases of a disease that are present in a population at risk, in a particular geographical area, at one specified time or during a given period

Quarantine

the separation of animals that are newly acquired, returning after a period of time, exposed, suspected to be infected, or non-infected animals that are at risk for infection (NOT ALWAYS SICK)

Risk

the likelihood of the occurrence and the likely magnitude of the biological and economic consequences of an adverse event or effect to animal or human health

Stamping-out policy

a policy designed to eliminate an outbreak by carrying out under the authority of the Veterinary Authority the following:

a) the killing of the animals which are affected and those suspected of being affected in the herd or flock and, where appropriate, those in other herds or flocks which have been exposed to infection by direct animal to animal contact, or by indirect contact with the causal pathogenic agent

b) the disposal of carcasses and, where relevant, animal products by rendering, burning or burial, or by any other method described

c) the cleansing and disinfection of establishments through procedures define

Susceptible host

animal or human that is at risk of infection or disease

Transboundary animal diseases (TADs)

those diseases that are of significant economic, trade and/or food security importance for a considerable number of countries; which can easily spread to other countries and reach epidemic proportions; and where control/management, including exclusion, requires cooperation between several countries

Vaccination

the administration of a vaccine, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the Terrestrial Manual, when relevant, with the intention of inducing immunity in an animal or group of animals against one or more pathogenic agents

Vaccine

includes all products designed to stimulate active immunization of animals against disease, without regard to the type of microorganism or microbial component or toxin from which they may be derived or that they contain

Zone

a part of a country defined by the Veterinary Authority, containing an animal population or subpopulation with a specific animal health status with respect to an infection or infestation for the purposes of international trade or disease prevention or control

Secretion

Movement of material from the cell, the lumen of the organ in the case of the gastrointestinal tract, and the lumen of the tubules in the nephrons/the movement of substances from the cell to the extracellular compartment, particularly in the context of secretion of hormones

Absorption

Movement of material or substance from the lumen of the organ to the extracellular fluid and ultimately to the bloodstream

Digestion

Chemical and mechanical breakdown of food into absorbable units

Filtration

Passage through a filter or other material that prevents passage of certain molecules, particles, or substances

Pinocytosis

Uptake of extracellular fluids and dissolved solutes, such as fat droplets, vitamins, and antigens into the cells

Exocytosis

Process by which cells move materials from within the cell into the extracellular fluid; occurs when a vesicle fuses with the plasma membrane, releasing its contents outside the cell

Phagocytosis

Process by which a cell engulfs particles such as bacteria, other microorganisms, aged red blood cells, foreign matter, etc. The principal phagocytes include neutrophils and monocytes (WBCs). The prefix "phago-" comes from the Greek "phago" meaning "to eat"

Bulk flow

Bulk flow of fluid and electrolytes occurs through "pores" and intercellular clefts; this exchange mechanism is indispensable in renal glomerular capillaries with a high filtration rate; however, it occurs to a variable extent in nearly all tissues

Solvent drag

The bulk movement of solute along with absorbed water, the movement of which is osmotically coupled to solute transport into the lateral intercellular space

Bright-Field Microscopy

one of the most common and widely used types of optical microscopy in medical and biological sciences; primary use is to observe stained or unstained specimens, such as cells, tissues, and microorganisms, to aid in diagnosis and research

Deterministic radiation

early radiation response; severity increases with increasing dose (usually has a threshold- radiation induced cataracts)

Stochastic radiation

random effect, no dose threshold (radiation induced cancer)