Glossary

All definitions are given relative to the context of veterinary parasitology.

A
Acaricidal compound Compounds that act against ectoparasites belonging to the class Arachnida, sub-class Acari by zoological nomenclature.

Acaricide Compounds that act against ectoparasites belonging to the class Arachnida, sub-class Acari by zoological nomenclature.

Anthelmintic A compound that destroys or causes the expulsion of parasitic worms.

Application Like treatment, but describing how veterinary medicinal products can be administered or applied to animals, typically orally, topically or by injection.

Ascarid A worm of the family Ascarididae which includes Ascaridia, Ascaris, Toxocara and Toxascaris.

Asexual reproduction Multiplication of parasite stages by binary or multicellular fission without production of sexually differentiated stages.

Asymptomatic Capable of carrying and transmitting disease but exhibiting no symptoms or clinical signs.

Atopic The animal is allergic or sensitised to antigens from the environment.

B
Bradyzoites Slow-dividing tissue stages contained within a pseudocyst or maturating tissue cyst.

C
Cerumen Earwax.

Cestodes Any of the various flatworms of the class Cestoidea, including tapeworms.

Chemoprophylaxis Disease prevention by the use of chemicals or drugs.

Chemotherapy Disease treatment by use of chemicals.

Control General term comprising therapy and prevention (prophylaxis).

Coproantigen test Test to detect antigen in faeces.

Cysts a) Environmental resistant stage of Giardia excreted with faeces able to survive outside the host. b) Mature stage of heteroxenic protozoa in the extraintestinal tissues (= tissue cysts).

D
Definitive/final host A host in which the sexual development (production of sexually differentiated stages) is completed (in contrast to intermediate hosts).

Dermatoses Any skin disease or lesion on the skin.

Dormozoites Sleeping cells – non-dividing tissue stages. Development continues once they are transmitted to a carnivorous host until they are transmitted to a carnivorous host.

E
Ectoparasiticide Compound developed as a therapeutic agent to eliminate any existing ectoparasite infestation and prevent reinfestation.

Efficacy The ability of a drug to produce the desired therapeutic effect at the recommended dosage.

Egg re-appearance period (ERP) The time interval between the last effective anthelmintic treatment and the reappearance of egg shedding.

Eggs per gram (EPG) The number of helminth (usually nematode) eggs per gram of faeces from an animal.

Endemic Prevalent in, or restricted to, a particular region.

Endoparasiticide Therapeutic agent used to eliminate an endoparasite infection and to prevent reinfection.

Epidemiology The study of the causes, distribution and control of disease.

Erythematous Red skin due to congestion of the capillaries.

Excystation Escape of parasite stages from the multilayered shell which cover the environmental stages (see cyst, oocyst).

F
Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) A test to assess treatment efficacy based on pre- and posttreatment faecal egg counts.

Filaria Nematode worms now classified as Onchocercidae.

H
Helminths Worms: in this context parasitic.

Heteroxenic Infecting several host species in the life cycle.

Homoxenic Infecting only one host in the whole life cycle.

Hookworm Parasitic nematode with hooked mouthparts.

Hyperpigmentation An increase in the natural colour of the skin.

Hypnozoites See dormozoites.

Hypobiosis Arrested development, normally in worm larval stages in the intestinal mucosa of the definitive host.

I
IGR (insect growth regulator) Compound that may kill and/or inhibit the development of immature stages of insects.

Infection Invasion and multiplication of micro-organisms in body tissues.

Infective Capable of producing infection.

Infestation The presence of parasites in the environment, on the skin or in the hair of a host.

Ingestion Taking into the body via the mouth.

Insecticide Compounds that act against ectoparasites belonging to the class Insecta by zoological nomenclature.

Integrated control The use of several measures to control different parasites, or parasite stages, present on the animal as well as stages present in the environment.

Intermediate host A host in which asexual reproduction or development is completed.

Intertriginous Areas of skin that may rub together e.g. the axilla between the leg and body of an animal.

L
Lichenification Thickening of the skin caused by chronic inflammation resulting from prolonged scratching or irritation.

M
Metaphylactic measures Measures given to infected, but not yet sick or damaged, host animals taken to prevent or minimise an expected disease.

Metastrongylids Family of nematode parasites, the adults invade the bronchi and lung.

Monoxenous Infecting only one host species in the whole life cycle.

Morphology The form and structure of organisms.

Motile Moving.

Myiasis Infection of vertebrates by developing fly larvae.

N
Nematodes Roundworms, in this context parasitic.

Non-motile Not exhibiting or capable of movement.

O
Oocyst A tenacious spore stage capable of surviving outside the host.

P
Palaearctic A zoogeographical region consisting of Europe, Africa (north of the Sahara) and most of Asia (north of the Himalayas).

Parasiticide A compound developed for killing parasites.

Paratenic host A host which serves to maintain the life cycle of the parasite; no parasite development or reproduction takes place.

Patent infection A mature infection which produces immature stages such as eggs or oocysts.

Pathogenesis The origin, development and resultant effects of a disease.

Pathogens An agent capable of causing disease.

Pesticide A compound developed for the elimination of different stages of parasites in the environment.

Phlebotome A sand fly. In Europe, Psychodid sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus are responsible for the transmission of leishmaniosis.

Prepatency The period before an infection is mature and producing eggs or equivalent.

Prevalence A term describing the proportion (usually given as a percentage) of infected hosts within any group of animals.

Prevention Measures taken, prior to any parasitic infestation or infection of the animal, to prevent the establishment of an infestation, infection or disease.

Proglottids Segments of a tapeworm.

Prophylactic Measures taken to prevent or reduce the risk of infection.

Protozoa Any of a large group of single-celled organisms.

Pruritus Severe itching.

R
Refugium The parasite population that is not exposed to the drug at the time of treatment.

Repellent A compound which makes a host unattractive to a parasite and thus can prevent attack or establishment.

S
Schizogony See asexual reproduction.

Sporocysts A multilayered stage within oocysts that contains the sporozoites.

Sporozoites The cellular infective units that evolve from excystation of oocysts and sporocysts.

Sporulation Development of sporozoites from the stages of sexual development.

Subcutaneous Under the skin. Subcutaneous worms = worms that burrow under the skin.

Symptomatic Relating to, or based upon, symptoms.

T
Tachyzoites Fast-reproducing parasite stages within the host cell.

Therapy Any medical intervention to cure a disease; this includes the use of veterinary medicinal products (treatment), to eliminate an existing parasite infestation.

Tissue cyst See cysts.

Topical treatment Treatment applied to the surface of the skin.

Treatment Application of veterinary medicinal products (medication) as deemed necessary based upon any given diagnosis or risk.

Trematodes Flatworms, in this context parasitic.

Trophozoites Motile, active stages in the host e.g. within the life cycle of Giardia and other protozoa.

V
Vector-borne An organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that carries disease-causing micro-organisms from one host to another.

Viscera Soft internal organs of the body.

Visceral Relating to the viscera.

Z
Zoonosis Any infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

Zoonotic Transmissible between animals and humans stages (see cyst, oocyst).

Glossary

Acaricidal compound

Acaricide

Anthelmintic

Application

Ascarid

Asexual reproduction

Asymptomatic

Atopic

Bradyzoites

Cerumen

Cestodes

Chemoprophylaxis

Chemotherapy

Control

Coproantigen test

Cysts

Definitive/final host

Dermatoses

Dormozoites

Ectoparasiticide

Efficacy

Egg re-appearance period (ERP)

Eggs per gram (EPG)

Endemic

Endoparasiticide

Epidemiology

Erythematous

Excystation

Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT)

Filaria

Helminths

Heteroxenic

Homoxenic

Hookworm

Hyperpigmentation

Hypnozoites

Hypobiosis

IGR (insect growth regulator)

Infection

Infective

Infestation

Ingestion

Insecticide

Integrated control

Intermediate host

Intertriginous

Lichenification

Metaphylactic measures

Metastrongylids

Monoxenous

Morphology

Motile

Myiasis

Nematodes

Non-motile

Oocyst

Palaearctic

Parasiticide

Paratenic host

Patent infection

Pathogenesis

Pathogens

Pesticide

Phlebotome

Prepatency

Prevalence

Prevention

Proglottids

Prophylactic

Protozoa

Pruritus

Refugium

Repellent

Schizogony

Sporocysts

Sporozoites

Sporulation

Subcutaneous

Symptomatic