| These terms appear in the order they are presented in the Feline Heartworm Disease pages. |
endemic - present in a community at all times
Dirofilaria imitis - scientific name for heartworms
ectopic - located away from the normal position
microfilaremia - the presence of microfilaria in the circulating blood
concentration tests - heartworm tests which are based on the ability to identify microfilaria in a quantity of blood which has been concentrated
Anopheles spp. - species of mosquito
Aedes spp. - species of mosquito
villous endarteritis -
cellular infiltrates - cells which migrate and accumulate in tissues
adventitia - the outer coat of an artery
embolization - formation of a clot or plug in a vessel
cor pulmonale - heart disease caused by pulmonary hypertension secondary to disease of the blood vessels of the lung
perivascular reaction - reaction occuring around a vessel
Type II alveolar cell hypertrophy - the type II cell is a large cell in the airspace and makes surfactant
post caval syndrome - acute disease caused by a large burden of worms decreasing venous return from the post cava
ascites - effusion and accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity
hemoglobinuria - the presence of free hemoglobin in the urine
tricuspid insufficiency - inability of the tricuspid valve to prevent blood from flowing from the right ventricle back into the right atrium
eosinophilic pneumonitis - inflammation of the lung tissue consisting of eosinophils
infarction - occlusion of arterial supply or venous drainage causing a localized area of ischemic necrosis
hemoptysis - coughing of blood or blood stained sputum
inflammatory mediators - substances released by cells which regulate nflammatory processes
chemoreceptor trigger zone - area of the brain which, when stimulated, can cause vomiting
differential diagnosis - the potential causes for a symptom or set of symptoms
bronchial asthma - condition characterized by recurrent attacks of dyspnea and wheezing due to spasmodic contraction of the bronchi
lung lobe consolidation - solidification of the lung as with exudate in pneumonia
systolic murmur - murmur associated with contraction of the ventricles
tricuspid valve - valve between the right atrium and right ventricle in the heart
gallop rhythm - presence of 3 or 4 heart sounds on cardiac auscultation
anemia - abnormally low number of red blood cells
Hct - the percentage of red blood cells in whole blood (hematocrit)
nucleated RBC's - immature red blood cells in which nuclei can be visualized
eosinophilia - abnormal increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood
basophilia - abnormal increase in the number of basophils in the blood
non-regenerative - anemia in which the body is not producing red blood cells to compensate for the red blood cell deficiency
urinalysis - examination of the urine for cellular components and chemical analysis for protein, glucose, and other metabolites
hyperglobulinemia - increased globulins in the blood
serum globulins - proteins found in serum which are composed of the alpha, beta and gamma subtypes
electrophoresis - process used to separate charged particles such as serum globulins
Knott's test - test for heartworms in which the blood is concentrated and examined for the presence of microfilaria
IFA test - test for heartworms in which a blood sample which may contain an anti-heartworm antibody is exposed to an antigen, labeled with a fluorochrome, and examined for a pattern of fluorescence indicating a positive test
milipore filter - test for heartworms in which a blood sample is hemolized and put through a filter to collect microfilaria which may be present for microscopic identification
occult heartworms - heartworm infection in which microfilaria are not present in the blood even though there are adult worms present
serology - examination of a host's response to an antigen, detection of antibodies
non-specific - situation in which a test will react with antibodies other than the one it is designed to identify
right axis vector - abnormality detected on an EKG in which the normal electrical axis is shifted (greater that 100 degrees), indicating right heart enlargement
ectopic ventricular beats - ventricular beats which originate from a location other than via the normal purkinje system in the heart
parenchymal - pertaining to the functional part of an organ such as the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli of the lung
VD - radiograph taken with the beam passing from the ventral to the dorsal aspect of the object being radiographed
DV - radiograph taken with the beam passing from the dorsal to the ventral aspect ot the object being radiographed
arteriogram - radiograph of an artery utilizing radiopaque material to outline the vessel
nonselective angiocardiogram -
hyperechoic - strong reflection of ultrasound
eosinophils - type of granular leukocytes in the blood
tracheal wash - diagnostic technique in which the secretions of the trachea are sampled and examined for cells, bacteria, etc.
asthma - condition characterized by paroxysmal dyspnea and wheezing due to spasmodic contraction of the bronchi
Aelurostrongylus abstrusus -
Paragonimus kellicotti -
cardiomyopathy - primary disease of the heart muscle
pyothorax - accumulation of pus in the thorax
pleural effusion - escape of fluid from the serous membrane surrounding the lungs and lining the walls of the thoracic cavity
pneumothorax - air or gas in the pleural space
contrast procedures -
Toxocara cati - feline roundworm
tachycardia - rapid heart rate
syncope - temporary loss of consciousness due to a deficiency of blood to the brain
BAL - bronchial alveolar lavage
hepatotoxicity - toxic destruction of liver cells
pulmonary edema - extravascular fluid in the pulmonary tissue and air spaces caused by changes in hydrostatic forces in the capillaries or increased capillary permeability
corticosteroids - anti-inflammatory drug, a steroid produced by the adrenal cortex
cyanosis - bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes caused by an excessive amount of reduced hemoglobin in the blood
hyperalimentation - ingestion of a greater than optimal amount of nutrients
microfilaricides - substances used to kill microfilaria
embolization - formation of a clot or plug of foreign material in a vessel which causes blockage of the vessel
thrombocytopenia - decrease in the number of platelets in circulating blood
prostaglandin - group of fatty acids found in tissues of many species which stimulate contractiligy of uterine and smooth muscle, lower blood pressure and affect the action of hormones.
leukotriene -
bronchospasm - spasmodic contraction of the smooth muscle of the bronchi as occurs in asthma.
pulmonary hypertension - abnormally increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation
serotonin - vasoconstrictor present in blood, central nervous system and other tissues, also stimulates smooth muscle and serves as a central neurotransmitter
glucocorticoid - a corticoid substance which increases gluconeogenesis raising the concentration of liver glycogen and blood sugar
vector - a carrier which transfers an infective agent from one host to another
reservoir - an alternate host or passive carrier of a pathogenic organism
self-limiting - condition in which a disease is limited by its own peculiarities and not by outside influence