GLOSSARY

Words followed by this symbol 0 are defined here

anemia--- shortage of red blood cells, commonly caused by excessive bleeding, infection, dietary deficiency or presence of toxins in the body. ataxia--- incoordination of the muscles, which results in shaky, irregular movements; may also be accompanied by weakness and loss of proprioception. chromosome--- the self-replicating genetic structure of cells containing the cellular DNA that bears in its nucleotide sequence the linear array of genes. Each species has a constant number of chromosomes set in pairs in the nucleus of each body cell; the horse has 64, or 32 pairs. corneal ulcers (ulcerative keratitis)---disruptions or sores in the transparent outer membrane of the eye caused by trauma, infection or disease; usually accompanied by inflammation. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)---large organic molecule that consists of two chains of nucleotides wound around each other; the material of which genes are made. Genes are responsible for the individual inherited characteristics of living organisms. endotoxins (bacterial pyrogens)---poisonous substances produced within bacterial cells and released when those cells are destroyed. equine herpesvirus (EHV)---a family of viruses that primarily cause chronic respiratory infections in horses (EHV-1, EHV-4). EHV-1 can also cause abortions in mares and, in rare cases, both EHV-1 and -4 can cause neurological signs, in- cluding progressive weakness and incoordination. EHV-3 causes a venereal disease called equine coital exanthema. equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)---endocrine disorder characterized by increased fat deposits in specific locations on the body or overall obesity; insulin resistance, which leads to abnormally high levels of the hormone circulating in the bloodstream; and a predisposition toward laminitis in the absence of other recognized causes. equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM)--inflammation of the brain and spinal cord caused by protozoal infection. insulin resistance--- metabolic disorder, similar to type 2 diabetes, that occurs when certain cells in the body become less sensitive to the action of insulin, and normal amounts of the hormone can no longer keep adequate amounts of glucose moving into the cells for use as fuel. laminitis--- inflammation of the sensitive plates of soft tissue (laminae) within the horse’s foot caused by physical or physiologic injury. Severe cases of laminitis may result in founder, an internal deformity of the foot. Acute laminitis sets in rapidly and usually responds to appropriate, intensive treatment, while chronic laminitis is a persistent, long-term condition that may be unresponsive to treatment. leptospirosis--- systemic disease caused by Leptospira organisms and characterized by red-cell destruction, kidney disease, inflammation of the eyeball and, in pregnant mares, abortion; occurs sporadically in horses; common in dogs and cattle. neonatal--- occurring in the first hours or days of life. peritonitis--- inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal walls and covering the abdominal organs. pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, Cushing’s disease)---disease caused when the cortex of the adrenal gland produces excessive amounts of hormones, including cortisol; signs include persistent long hair, thin skin, fragile bones, stupor, weakness and sweating. proprioception--- the unconscious sense of where the body and limbs are at any given moment. rabies--- acute infectious viral disease of the central nervous system, usually fatal. rainrot (rain scald)---crusted, painful, infectious skin inflammation, caused by Dermatophilus congolensis, which lifts the hair and removes it at its root, resulting in slipping away of affected areas of the hair coat. Triggered by moisture. rhinopneumonitis--- highly contagious disease caused by herpesviruses (EHV-1, EHV-4); characterized by fever, mild respiratory infection and, in mares, abortion. In rare cases, some strains of these herpesviruses also cause potentially fatal neurological complications. ringworm--- contagious fungal infection of skin cells and hair fibers. scratches--- scabby and/or oozing skin inflammation on the back of the pastern above the heels; equivalent to chapped hands in people. tailhead--- the root of the tail where it blends in with the body; the highest movable point on the tail. thrombocytopenia--- shortage of platelets in the blood. thrush--- hoof disease characterized by degeneration of the frog and a thick, foul-smelling discharge.