Terms

All AVIS programs hold hundreds of definitions covering the terms used throughout.

Here is a small sample:

antibiotic
A class of natural and synthetic compounds that inhibit the growth of, or kill some micro-organisms. Antibiotics are widely used medicinally to control bacterial pathogens.

compartment
An autonomous epidemiological entity defined on the basis of either geography (zone) or management (enterprise) for the purpose of international trade.

disinfestation
The application of procedures intended to eliminate arthropods which may cause diseases or are potential vectors of infectious agents of animal diseases, including zoonoses.

idiotype
A classification of antibody molecules according to the antigenicity of the variable regions. Each idiotype is unique to a particular immunoglobulin raised to a particular antigen.

risk analysis
A process consisting of three components: risk assessment, risk management and risk communication performed to understand the nature of unwanted, negative consequences to human and animal health, or the environment.