Disease Terminology

Question 1

The incubation period of Parvovirus, Canine Distemper virus, Rabies virus, Feline Respiratory Disease, Tetanus.

Answer 1

Parvovirus: 7 days.
Canine Distemper virus: 3 - 10 days.
Rabies virus: 6 months.
Feline Respiratory disease: 2 - 3 days.
Tetanus: 4 - 20 days.

Question 2

When breaking down infectious/non-infectious diseases into categories, use the acronym ‘DAMN IT’.

Answer 2

◼ D = Degenerative or Developmental
◼ A = Anomalous, Autoimmune or Allergic
◼ M = Metabolic, Mechanical or Mental
◼ N = Nutritional or Neoplastic
◼ I = Inflammatory, Infectious, Ischaemic, Immune-mediated, Inherited, Iatrogenic or
Idiopathic
◼ T = Traumatic or Toxic

Question 3

Morbidity

Answer 3

Morbidity is a term used to describe the incidence of disease within a population.
For instance, if we have a herd of 100 animals and 10 of them become sick with a disease, then
the morbidity of that disease is said to be 10%.

Question 4

Mortality

Answer 4

Mortality is the term used to describe the number of deaths within a population of animals due to the
disease.
For instance, if in that herd of 100 animals, 5 of them die of the disease, the mortality is said to be
5%.

Question 5

Epidemiology

Answer 5

Epidemiology is the study of various factors which determine the frequency and distribution of disease
within a population.
The terms morbidity and mortality are used frequently in epidemiology.

Question 6

Congenital disease

Answer 6

Diseases that are present when the animal is born are described as congenital diseases.
Examples of congenital diseases include cleft palates, deformities and parasite infestations that
are gained during pregnancy.
Some congenital diseases are inherited from the parents, that is, information from the parents’
genes is passed onto the offspring. One example is hip dysplasia in dogs. Note: not all congenital
diseases are inherited, many diseases seen at birth are just one-off accidents that occur during
pregnancy

Question 7

Acquired disease

Answer 7

Acquired diseases are those that affect an animal after birth. That is, they occur during the life of
the animal once it is outside of the uterus. Most of the diseases considered in this unit are acquired
diseases.

Question 8

Acute disease

Answer 8

Acute disease refers to diseases of short duration, usually of some days’ duration. They generally
develop suddenly. Examples include the common cold virus in people, and Canine Parvovirus in
dogs

Question 9

Chronic disease

Answer 9

Chronic disease refers to a disease that lasts for a longer period, which may be from weeks to years in duration.
Examples include some cancers and arthritis. Interestingly, upper respiratory tract
infections in cats (‘cat ‘flu’) commence as an acute infection, but in some cats, the immune system does not overcome the infection. They become chronically infected with the disease with ongoing ocular
and nasal discharge lasting many years (sometimes referred to as “chronic snufflers”). Other cats will completely recover from the disease within a week or two.

Question 10

The methods of transmission are how it is spread.

This can indicate that the disease may be due to one of the following causes:

Answer 10

• Infectious
  ◼ Inherited condition (“vertical” transmission means passed down from parents to offspring)
  ◼ Contamination or toxin (radiation, poisons)
  ◼ Environmental

Question 11

Localised disease

Answer 11

This refers to a disease that affects only a localised or small area of the body.
For example, a small area of inflammation on the skin of the nose is a localised condition. A disease
may initially start as a localised condition and then spread to affect a larger area.

Question 12

Nosocomial infection

Answer 12

This term refers to an infection acquired when in hospital.

Question 13

Disseminated disease

Answer 13

Disseminated disease refers to a disease that affects a larger area than a localised one and has become
more diffuse in nature.
One example of a disseminated disease is a widespread cancer that has spread around the body, via
the bloodstream.

Question 14

Systemic disease

Answer 14

Systemic disease refers to disease that has spread to affect a number of tissues or organs.
These diseases tend to be more serious in their nature. FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is an
example of a disease that is systemic. FIV affects much of the body as it progresses, as it causes
the body to have a compromised immune system.

Question 15

Aetiology

Answer 15

The cause of the disease.

Question 16

Diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system may cause dysfunction due to (2):

Answer 16

• Pain

- Restriction of movement

Question 17

Five diseases of the musculoskeletal system include:

Answer 17

1. Arthritis (joint inflammation) and often associated degeneration of a joint, called
   degenerative joint disease or DJD
2. Fractures: actual breaks in the bone
3. Myositis: inflammation of the muscle
4. Cancer of bone or muscle
5. Ruptures and tears of ligaments or tendons

Question 18

Diseases affecting the bone marrow may inhibit RBC, WBC, PLT production, which will cause what in each blood cell type?

Answer 18

1. Lack of RBC = anaemia -> Lethargic, tachypnoea -> If severe can lead to pale gums, tachycardia.
2. Lack of WBC -> Lack of defence.
3. Lack of PLT -> Risk of haemorrhaging + bleeding tendencies.

Question 19

In summary, what are 10 clinical signs associated with cardiovascular disease?

Answer 19

1. Increased respiratory rate and effort, panting
   ◼ Elevated heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms or murmurs
   ◼ Sometimes an erratic heart rate (if the electrical conduction system of the heart is
   damaged)
   ◼ Coughing (from pulmonary oedema)
   ◼ Ascites (distended abdomen due to oedema/fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity)
   ◼ Oedema (swollen feet and other dependent areas)
   ◼ Weakness
   ◼ Pale or cyanotic mucous membranes
   ◼ Enlarged heart (as seen on radiographs or ultrasound)
   ◼ Weak pulses

Question 20

What causes oedema?

Answer 20

Diseased heart = inefficient at one-way pumping. Make up for less BP by retaining water in stream. If retain long-duration = water ooze out into tissue = fluid build-up.

Question 21

How would resp system dysfunction affect the lungs?

Answer 21

May interfere with gas exchange in the lungs.

Question 22

Dysfunction of the upper respiratory tract (e.g. nasal cavities, larynx) may result in the following clinical signs:

Answer 22

Nasal discharge
◼ Sneezing
◼ Gagging and coughing

Question 23

Dysfunction of the lower respiratory tract (e.g. bronchioles, lung tissues) may result in the
following clinical signs:

Answer 23

Coughing
◼ Breathing difficulties (dyspnoea)
◼ Tachypnoea (fast respiratory rate)
◼ Lethargy and exercise intolerance

Question 24

Signs suggestive of dysfunction to the nervous system include:

Answer 24

Twitching of muscles
◼ Increased muscle rigidity (spasticity)
◼ Floppy or flaccid muscle tone
◼ Limb weakness (paresis)
◼ Complete loss of limb function (paralysis)
◼ Change in mental state (mentation) e.g. stupor, hyperexcitability
◼ Blindness
◼ Seizures
◼ Circling
◼ Nystagmus (flicking of the eyes)
◼ Head pressing (e.g. against walls)
◼ Opisthotonus (also known as ‘star gazing’ as the head and neck is stretched back)

Question 25

Clinical signs that may be apparent with upper urinary tract dysfunction (kidneys and ureters) include:

Answer 25

1 . Excessive thirst (polydipsia) and
◼ Excessive urination (polyuria) (together these are known as PU/PD)Lethargy (due to dehydration, a build-up of waste products if kidneys are dysfunctional)
◼ Nausea, inappetence and vomiting (due to a build-up of waste products if kidneys are
dysfunctional)
◼ Oral ulceration (due to a build-up of waste products)

NOTE: Clinical signs may not be seen until a large percentage of kidney function has already deteriorated.