Animal health terminology

Virulence

Severity of disease

Biosecurity

Series of management practices designed to prevent the introduction or further spread of disease

Clinical signs

Observable differences in an animal's normal function or state of health that indicates the presence of a bodily disorder

Pathogenicity

Ability to cause disease

Contagious

Able to be transmitted from one animal to another

Disease

Any state other than complete health

Homeostasis

Ability of the body to maintain equilibrium in the internal environment despite changes in external environment or introduction of an agent

Infection

Disease caused by pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, virus, parasites, and fungi

Zoonotic

Pathogens that can be spread from animal to human

Toxin

A poisonous compound produced by some plants, microrganisms, or animals

Morbidity

Measurement of illness

Mortality

Animal death

Withdrawal period

Time before slaughter that a drug should NOT be administered or animal being treated should NOT be marketed

APHIS

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This agency is responsible for administering the Animal Welfare Act, regulate genetically modified organisms, and monitor for diesease at the borders and throughout the country

Stress

A response by the body to a stimulus that interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of the animal

Vector

Animal, usually an arthopod, that transfers an infectious agent from one host to another

Subclinical

Type of infection where no observable signs or symptoms exist making diagnosis difficult.

Clinical

Type of infection with observable signs and symptoms that allow for identification.

Pathology

Study of disease and its process; ie the results of infection

Etiology

Study of the causes of disease