S1: Disease Flashcards
What is immunobiology?
The study of the response of the animal body to organisms that cause disease
What is the definition of disease?
A morbid (sick) process, that can affect the whole body or a part of the body with a characteristic group of symptoms
What is an infectious disease?
A disease that is caused by a living agent, that can often be transmitted from one individual to another
What are the four common types of living agents?
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites
What is a non-infectious disease?
A disease where there is no living agent involved
What does the term contagious mean?
Refers to the ease of transmission of an agent from one individual to another
What does the term infectious mean?
Means that the disease is caused by a living agent
What are saprophytes?
Bacteria that live on dead material, seldom cause disease and common around decaying organic matter
What are parasites?
Organisms that live off and challenge living host tissues
What is bacteremia?
A situation in which bacteria are present in the blood of an animal, may or may not cause sickness
What is septicemia?
A situation in which there is bacteria multiplying in the blood and causing disease
What is toxemia?
The presence of toxins (poisons) in the blood
What is commensalism?
A harmless relationship between a microorganism and the animal body, ex. The normal bacteria that live on skin
What is symbiosis?
A beneficial relationship between a microorganism and a host, ex. The bacteria that live in the intestines of animals.
What is parasitism?
A challenging relationship between a microorganism and a host
What are the three stages of the development of infectious disease?
Incubation period
Period of illness
Period of convalescence
What happens in the incubation period?
An infectious agent is established in the body, and there is rapid multiplication. The host remains visibly healthy. The duration of this period can take days, weeks, or years.
What happens in the period of illness?
There is development of clinical signs and the animal is now visibly sick. Animal may or may not progress past this stage due to death
What happens in the period of convalescence?
The animal’s immune system overcomes the infectious agent, and the animal’s health improves. The infectious agent may still be present within the host or completely eliminated.
What is an acute disease?
Onset of a disease that may be very rapid, with severe signs and a short course of 12 - 24 hours
What is a chronic disease?
A disease that is ongoing and progressively debilitating, often difficult to treat and ending in death
What is a peracute disease?
The onset of disease is very acute with the duration of a few hours only
What is a subacute disease?
A type of disease that is somewhat acute; between acute and chronic. Often a week’s duration.
What is a local infection?
An infectious agent that has a predilection for a particular location in the body, or has invaded an area and remains active only in that area.
What is a systematic infection?
An infectious agents that has gained entrance to the bloodstream and has spread throughout the body. Assumed to be in all organs
