GLOSSARY

Words followed by this symbol P are defined here

antibody--- disease-fighting substance produced by the body in response to the presence of an antigen. antihistamine--- drug used to suppress histamine, a substance produced by the body in response to injury, infection or allergy. carbohydrates--- large group of carbon-based compounds, including starches, sugars and cellulose, that are found in plants and form the largest class of animal foods. Carbohydrates, together with proteins and lipids, are principal components of cell protoplasm, the viscous fluid that fills plant and animal cells. 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. electrolytes--- simple inorganic compounds that dissolve in water and are essential for many of the chemical processes in the body. endemic--- belonging or native to a particular locality. enzyme--- any of the numerous facilitator proteins enabling the building up, altering or breaking down of other specific substances with which they interact. epinephrine (adrenaline)---hormone secreted by the central portion of the adrenal gland that acts primarily as a stimulant. equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)--endocrine disorder characterized by increased fat deposits in specific locations of 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. heaves--- common term for recurrent airway obstruction, a respiratory disease, usually of older horses, induced by exposure to dusts typically found in stables and resulting in narrowing of the small airways of the lungs. idiopathy--- illness of unknown cause. 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. 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. polymerase chain reaction (PCR)---a technique which is used to amplify the number of copies of a specific region of DNA, in order to produce enough DNA to be adequately tested. This technique can be used to identify, with a very high-probability, disease-causing viruses and/or bacteria. protein--- large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order. Proteins are required for the structure, function and regulation of the body’s cells, tissues and organs, and each protein has unique functions. Simple proteins consist only of amino acids. Conjugated proteins consist of amino acids joined to other complex molecules. Derived proteins are the products of chemical changes to other proteins. smegma--- secretion of sebaceous glands, especially the cheesy secretion from the penis. sweet itch--- allergy to the saliva of one or more various insects (culicoides, gnats, midges, nosee-ums); produces an inflammatory, itchy thickening and scabbing of the skin of the rump and/or withers, which become bare and weepy when the horse scratches. torsion--- stress caused when one end of a body part is twisted in one direction while the other end is held motionless or twisted in the opposite direction. white cells (leukocytes, white blood cells)--colorless blood cells active in the body’s defense against infection or other assault. There are five types: neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils.