Microbiology, Parasitology, and Equine Health Lecture Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering microbiology methods, parasitology, epidemiology, and equine specific diseases based on the lecture notes.

ELISA

Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay; an immunological method where plates have antibodies that bind to a microbial antigen, releasing a visible color.

Denaturing

The first stage of PCR where high temperatures are used to separate DNA strands.

Annealing

The second stage of PCR where primers bind to the DNA; this occurs at lower temperatures.

Extending

The final stage of PCR where DNA Polymerase builds the new DNA strands.

RT-PCR

Reverse Transcriptase PCR; a type of PCR that converts RNA to DNA to detect RNA expression.

Droplet digital PCR

A type of PCR used for absolute quantification of genetic material.

Broad spectrum antibiotics

Medicines active against many different types of bacteria.

Narrow spectrum antibiotics

Medicines that target specific groups of bacteria and have poor activity against others.

Mutualism

A type of symbiosis where both the organism and the host benefit from the relationship.

Parasitism

A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits while harming the host.

Commensalism

A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits without harming the other.

Protozoa

Single-celled eukaryotes characterized by rapid reproduction, such as Eimeria.

Metazoa

Multicellular parasites including worms (helminths) and arthropods (ticks).

Endoparasite

A parasite that lives within another living organism, such as Giardia.

Ectoparasite

A parasite that lives on the external surface of another living organism, such as lice or ticks.

Hyperparasite

A parasite that lives within another parasite, such as tapeworm larvae within fleas.

Direct life cycle

A parasite life cycle involving only one host, such as Eimeria.

Indirect life cycle

A parasite life cycle involving multiple hosts, specifically an intermediate and a definitive host (e.g., Fasciola hepatica).

Definitive Host

The host in which the parasite undergoes sexual reproduction.

Intermediate Host

A host where the parasite develops but does not undergo sexual reproduction.

Paratenic Host

A transport host where the parasite remains infective but no development occurs.

Reservoir Host

An animal that naturally maintains a parasite population in nature, serving as a source of infection.

Biological Vector

A living carrier in which a parasite undergoes development before being transmitted.

Mechanical Vector

A living carrier that transports a parasite without any development occurring inside the carrier.

Zoonosis

A disease that is transmitted from animals to humans.

Antigenic variation

An immune evasion strategy where parasites change their surface proteins, as seen in trypanosomes.

Molecular mimicry

An immune evasion strategy where a parasite acquires host antigens to hide from the immune system, as seen in schistosomes.

Nematodes

Roundworms that typically have direct life cycles and are transmitted as infective larvae on pasture.

Cestodes

Tapeworms; segmented worms with an attached head that can reach lengths of several yards.

Beef measles

Pea-size to grape-size cysts found in a carcass caused by the larvae of Taenia saginata.

Trematodes

Flukes, such as Fasciola hepatica, which live in the bile ducts of the liver as adults.

Pyometra

An accumulation of pus or abnormal discharge in the uterine cavity, often caused by Tritrichomonas foetus in cattle.

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in a population.

Epidemic

A rapid increase in the level of disease within a population.

Endemic

Levels of disease within a population that do not exhibit wide fluctuations over time.

Epidemiological triad

The interaction between the Host, the Agent, and the Environment that leads to disease.

Fomite

An inanimate object or surface that transmits disease through indirect contact.

Prevalence

A measure of health calculated as $\frac{\text{existing cases}}{\text{size of population}}$. house

Incidence risk

A measure of health calculated as $\frac{\text{incident cases}}{\text{individuals initially at risk}}$.

Cross-sectional study

A study design providing a 'snapshot' in time where exposure and outcome are assessed simultaneously.

Case-control study

A study design that starts with the outcome and looks backward to assess previous exposure.

Cohort study

A study design that starts with exposure and follows subjects forward in time to observe outcomes.

ESGD

Equine Squamous Gastric Disease; ulcers affecting the squamous lining of the horse's stomach.

EGGD

Equine Glandular Gastric Disease; ulcers affecting the glandular lining of the horse's stomach which are less well understood.

Omeprazole

A pharmacologic therapy (Gastrogard, Ulcergard) that treats gastric ulcers by blocking acid production.

Streptococcus equi equi

The bacterium responsible for Strangles, a contagious respiratory infection in horses.

Purpura hemorrhagica

A potential complication of Strangles involving vasculitis caused by an inappropriate immune response.

Bastard Strangles

An internal form of infection where Streptococcus equi equi spreads via the bloodstream or lymphatics.

Chondroids

Hardened masses of pus in the guttural pouch resulting from chronic empyema in horses with Strangles.

Costochondral junction

The specific site near the ribs where neonatal rib fractures in foals usually occur.