National Cervid Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard
Appendix 1: Glossary
- Biosecurity:
- A set of practices used to minimize the presence of pests and the transmission of pathogens in animal and plant populations including their introduction (bio-exclusion), spread within the populations (bio-management), and release (bio-containment).
- Cervid:
- Pertaining to, or a member of the family Cervidae (the deer family). Species farmed in Canada include elk, red deer, white-tailed deer, fallow deer, sika deer, mule deer, reindeer and moose.
- Cleaning:
- The physical removal of organic material from a surface. It includes dry cleaning (scraping, brushing, wiping), a wet cleaning procedure (washing the surface with water and a detergent, soap, enzyme or other chemical) and drying of surfaces. It precedes disinfection.
- Commingling:
- The mixing of groups of animals of the same species or between animals of a different species.
- Composted/ Composting:
- Is the actively managed process of aerobic decomposition of organic material, primarily by microbes into humus.
- Cross-contamination:
- The distribution of potentially infectious material from one animal to another, or between facilities, equipment or vehicles by animals, people or things.
- Direct contact:
- Close physical contact between animals including nose-to-nose, social interaction or breeding.
- Disinfectant:
- A chemical applied to surfaces to destroy or irreversibly inactivate microorganisms.
- Disinfection:
- The application of a physical or chemical process to a surface for the purpose of destroying micro-organisms.
- Emerging disease:
- A new disease or syndrome that occurs from the evolution or change of an existing pathogen or parasite resulting in a change of host range, vector, pathogenicity or strain; or the occurrence of a previously unrecognized infection or disease.
- Endemic disease:
- Is the constant presence of disease or infectious agent in a specific population or area. In animals, it is sometimes referred to as enzootic disease.
- Indirect contact:
- Transmission of a pathogen that occurs without directly coming into contact with the source (for example: transferring or a pathogen via an aerosol or contaminated object).
- Infection:
- The invasion and multiplication or reproduction of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, prions and parasites in the tissues of a living animal.
- Infectious disease:
- Disease caused by pathogens (e.g. parasites, bacteria, viruses, fungi or prions).
- Isolation:
- the strategy of segregating animals, new or returning animals, and animals that are known to be ill from the resident herd or the general population for a specified time period to ensure an inapparent or subclinical disease/pathogen is not introduced into the resident herd or population.
- Morbidity:
- Illness or disease; a measure of the frequency of a disease or illness in a population.
- Mortality:
- Is the measure of the number of deaths in a population.
- Outbreak:
- The occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a population of animals.
- Pathogen:
- Any disease producing agent or microorganism including but not limited to bacteria, fungi, viruses, prion and parasites.
- Pest:
- Is an organism (plant, animal—domestic or wild—fungus, bacteria etc.), that injures, irritates or damages livestock or crops or poses a risk for the transmission of disease.
- Post-mortem examination:
- A medical procedure conducted on an animal carcass to determine the cause of death and/or the presence of other physical changes, injuries and/or diseases.
- Reportable/ Notifiable diseases:
- May be provincial or federal requirements for the reporting of diseases outlined in their animal disease legislation. For additional information, contact the appropriate authorities.
- Risk:
- The chance of an unfavourable event occurring that affects animal and/or human health.
- Risk assessment:
- The process of evaluating the potential risk a pathogen and/or organism has of causing an unfavourable event that affects animal health/productivity and/or human health and the impact of the event.
- Sub-clinical infection:
- When an animal is infected with a pathogen without showing clinical signs of disease. May occur early in infection (during the incubation period) or with a very mild form, or following clinical disease. Sub-clinically infected animals may shed pathogens/pests and pose a risk of transmission.
- Vector:
- An organism such as a mosquito, fly, flea, tick, rodent, animal or person that transmits pathogens from an infected host (a deer or elk) to another animal. A biological vector is one in which the pathogen develops or multiplies in the vector’s body before becoming infective to the recipient animal. A mechanical vector is one which transmits an infective organism from one host to another but which is not essential to the life cycle of the pathogen.
- Zoonotic disease:
- A disease that can be shared between animals and humans.
- Date modified: