UNIT 1: Introduction
Terminologies
Abortion: an involuntary ending of a pregnancy through the discharge of the fetus
from the womb at too early a stage in its development for it to survive.
Acute: severe; describes a disease that is brief, severe, and quickly comes to a crisis
Adjuvant: a drug or agent added to another drug or agent to enhance its medical
effectiveness; a substance injected along with an antigen to enhance the immune
response stimulated by the antigen
Adsorbent: solid substance which attracts other molecules to its surface
Aerobic: needing oxygen to live
Agglutination: Clumping together
Albino: an animal that is completely white because it lacks the ability to make
pigment. Its eyes are pale, blue or pink.
Alopecia: a loss of hair
Allergen: substances that causes an allergic reaction
Allergy: Hypersensitivity to substance; unusual sensitivity to a normally harmless
substance that provokes a strong reaction from a person's body. The body is sensitized
by the immune system's response to the first exposure to the substance, and the
reaction takes place only upon subsequent exposures.
Analgesia: pain relief
Anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock): extreme sensitivity to a substance such as a
protein or drug. It’s a life threatening immediate allergic reaction to something
ingested or injected. If untreated, it results in shock, respiratory and cardiac failure,
and death.
Anaemia: a condition in which the number of RBCs present in the blood is lower
than normal.
Anorexia: complete loss of appetite.
Anthelmintic: Medication which kilss certain types of intestinal worms; dewormer.
Antibiotic: a naturally produced substance that kills or inactivates bacteria, but has no
effect against viruses, used as a medication.
Antibody: a protein produced by B cells in the body in response to the presence of an
antigen, e.g. a bacterium or virus. Antibodies are a primary form of immune response
in resistance to disease and act by attaching themselves to a foreign antigen and
weakening or destroying it.
Antibody titer: a measurement of the amount of antibodies in the blood.
Anticoagulation: stopping the blood clotting process
Anticonvulsant: a drug used to prevent or decreased the sensitivity of convulsions
Antiemetic: an agent that decreases or stops vomiting
Antigen: a substance, usually a protein, on the surface of a cell or bacterium that
stimulates the production of an antibody
Antipruritic: relieves itching
Antiseptic: a substancewhich inhibits the growth of bacteria but does not kill them
Antispasmodics: a drug or other agent that controls muscle spasms
Antitussive: cough suppressant
Anuria: the condition of compete failure in the function of the kidneys such that no
urine is produced.
Aplastic anaemia: a condition inn which RBCs, WBCs, and platelets are not
produced in sufficient quantity.
Arrhythemia: a variation from normal heart rhythm.
Articular: pertaining to joints
Ascites: fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
Aspirate: withdraw fluid or cells through use of suction.
Asymptomatic: without obvious symptoms- not showing or producing indications of
a disease or other medical condition
Ataxia: a lack of muscle coordination usually causing an abnormal or staggered gait.
Atopy: an allergy to something that is inhaled such as pollen or house dust. Also
called inhalant allergy.
Attenuated: weakened
Autoimmune: condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue.
Bacteriocidal: an agent that kills bacteria
Bacteriophages – viruses that infect specific bacteria by binding to surface receptor
molecules and then enter the cell
Bacteriostatic: an agent that stops the growth (reproduction) of bacteria but does not
kill them.
Benign: a mild illness or a nonmalignant form of a tumor.
Biopsy: the removal of a sample of tissue from a living person for laboratory
examination
Blepharospasm: spasm of the eyelids often resulting in complete closure of the lids
due to eye pain such as seen with a scratch on the cornea.
Bloat: filling of the stomach with air.
Borborygmus: the sound of gas moving through the intestine; bowel sounds.
Bradycardia: an abnormal slowing of the heart rate.
Bronchodilator: medication which opens up the main air passage to the lungs
Bronchospasm: condition in which the muscles surrounding the air passages tot the
lungs contract resulting in narrowing of the air passages.
Calcified: to become, or cause a body part to become, hard or stiff as a result of the
deposit of calcium salts
Calculus/calculi: abnormal stone like structures usually composed of mineral salts.
Cancer: malignant tumour
Capsid - The protein coat that surround the genetic material of a virus.
Carcinogen: a substance which causes cancer
Cataract (eye disease): an eye disease in which the lens becomes covered in an
opaque film that affects sight, eventually causing total loss of sight.
Chelation: binding of a substance to a metal.
Chronic: persistent; describes an illness or medical condition that lasts over a long
period and sometimes causes a long-term change in the body
Coagulation: the process of clotting.
Cold-blooded: having a body temperature regulated by the environment temperature.
Coma: being in a state of unconsciousness.
Comedo: same as black head; a small plug of dark fatty matter blocking a follicle on
the skin, especially on the face
Conception: the onset of pregnancy when the fertilized eggs attach to the uterus.
Congenital: a characteristic of animal present at birth. It may be inherited or induced.
Contagious: transmitted from one person to another either by direct contact with the
person or by indirect contact, e.g. contact with his or her clothes
Convulsion: (fit, seizure, spasm, paroxysm, tremor); Uncontrollable shaking-a violent
shaking of the body or limbs caused by uncontrollable muscle contractions, which can
be a symptom of brain disorders and other conditions
Crust: area of dried fluids or cells on the skin. The fluids may be blood, serum, pus,
or medication.
Culture: Micro-organisms, tissue cells, tissue, or other living matter grown in a
specially prepared nutrient medium. Also refers to the cells grown, i.e., a culture of
bacteria.
Cyanosis: bluish or grayish discolor to the skin and gums which happen when the
animal has insufficient oxygen.
Cyst: an abnormal sac-like structure that is lined with cells which produce a liquid or
thick material.
Deficiency: insufficiency
Degeneration: a disease process that causes a gradual deterioration in the structure of
a body part with a consequent loss of the ability to function
Dermatitis: an inflammation of the skin.
Diagnosis: the identifying of an illness or disorder in a patient through physical
examination, medical tests, or other procedures; the identifying of the nature or cause
of something, especially a problem or fault.
Distemper: a viral disease that affects various animals, especially dogs and cats.
Diuretic: agent which increases the secretion of water thereby ridding the body of
excess fluid.
Drug: a natural or artificial substance given to treat or prevent disease or to lessen
pain
(Pharmacology) a substance given to treat or prevent illness as defined in the U.S.
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
Dyspalsia: an abnormal tissue development
Dystocia: difficult birth.
Ectoparasite: a parasite that lives on the outside surface or skin of the animal.
Ectopic: describes an organ or body part occurring in an unusual position or form
Edema: a condition in which the tissues of the body contain too much fluid.
Electrolyte: any ion in cells, blood, or other organic material. Electrolytes help to
control fluid levels in the body, maintain normal pH levels, and ensure the correct
electric potential between nerve cells that enables the transmission of nerve signals.
Emaciation: to become, or make somebody or something become, extremely thin
Embolus: a mass, most commonly a blood clot that becomes lodged in a blood vessel
and obstructs it.
Emesis: vomiting
Encephalopathy: any degenerative disease of the brain.
Endocrine: pertaining to the secretion of hormones.
Endoscope: a long flexible instrument which can be passed into the body to view
various structures through the use of fiber optics.
Enteritis: inflammation of the intestine.
Envelope - A membranous covering found on some virus capsids that allows the virus
to enter a host cell by fusing with the host's cell membrane.
Enzymes - Proteins that act as catalysts for chemical reactions.
Epidermis: the top layer of the skin.
Erosion: a shallow defect in the skin. When healed, it will not cause a scar.
Erythema: redness of the skin caused by blood clogging in small blood vessels.
Exotic: an animal not native to the area where it is living.
Fistula: an opening or passage between two organs or between an organ and the skin,
caused by disease, injury, or congenital malformation.
Flatulence: increased stomach or intestinal gas.
Follicle: the group of cells in the skin in which hair develops.
Fulminating: describes illness coming on suddenly and with severe symptoms of short
duration
Fungicide: a drug that kills fungi.
Gastritis: inflammation of the stomach.
Genes - A unit of genetic material containing the information needed to produce and
regulate a single protein.
.
Germ: A disease-causing organism, such as a bacteria, parasite, or virus, usually
single celled.
Gestation: pregnancy.
Glucosuria: glucose in the urine. Also called glycosuria.
Glycogen: a storage form of glucose in the body.
Granuloma: the formation of a nodule as a result of inflammation.
Hematoma: a mass of blood within the tissue.
Hemolytic: causing the red blood cells to break open.
Hemorrhage: to bleed excessively.
Hepatitis: an inflammation or infection of the liver.
Hernia: the protrusion of an organ through abnormal opening.
Hormone: a chemical secreted by an endocrine gland or some nerve cells that
regulates the function of a specific tissue or organ
Host: the organism in/on which a parasite lives.
Hybrid: an animal that has parents of two different species.
Hyperglycemia: higher than normal blood glucose levels.
Hyperpigmentation: an increased dark color in the skin caused by the pigment
melanin.
Hyperplasia: an increase in the number of cells within an organ.
Hyper-reactive: producing an exaggerated or greater than normal response to a
stimulus.
Hypersensitive: Oversensitive; touchy; showing a strong reaction to a drug, allergen,
or other agent
Hyperthyroidism: a condition in which thyroid gland produces too much thyroid
hormone.
Hyperventilate: an increase in the rate/depth of respiration.
Hypoglycemia: lower than normal blood glucose level.
Hypoplasia: inadequate or defective development of tissue.
Icterus: Same as Jaundice. A yellowing of the tissues usually as a result of abnormal
liver function
Idiopathic: of unknown cause.
Immune system: the body’s defense system which recognizes the infectious agents
and other foreign compounds and works to destroy them.
Immunity: resistance to disease; a body's ability to resist a disease. Immunity may
exist naturally or as a result of inoculation or previous infection. In active immunity,
the body itself produces appropriate antibodies and lymphocytes, while in passive
immunity; antibodies are introduced from another source, as from mother to fetus.
Immunization: the process of rendering an animal protected (immune) against
certain diseases; to make somebody resistant to a disease, especially by vaccination
Incubation period: the development of an infection inside the body to the point at
which the first signs of disease become apparent
Infection: the transmission of infectious microorganisms from one person to another
Infestation: to live as a parasite on or in something; to overrun a place or site in large
numbers and become threatening, harmful, or unpleasant
Inflammation: swelling, redness, heat, and pain produced in an area of the body as a
reaction to injury or infection.
Jaundice: Refer icterus.
Lactating: producing milk.
Larva: the worm-like offspring of an insect.
Latent: a dormant stage (of disease).
Leucopenia: Lower than normal WBC count.
Lichenification: thickening and hardening of the skin.
Lymphocytes: the cells in the body which are responsible for mounting immune
responses.
Lymphokines: Chemicals produced by T- lymphocytes.
Lysogenic - The multiplication phase found in some viruses in which the virus's
genetic material becomes incorporated into the host cell and no new viruses are
produced.
Lytic – A virus multiplication phase in which virus replication takes place.
Macrophage: a type of phagocytic cell.
Malabsorption/ maldigestion sysdrome: A involving the intestine in which food
may not be properly digested or the nutrients not absorbed.
Malignant: describes a tumor that invades the tissue around it and may spread to
other parts of the body; used to describe a disease or condition that is liable to cause
death or serious disablement unless effectively treated
Malnutrition: ill health due to dietary deficiency or imbalance.
Mammary: relating or belonging to the milk-secreting organ of a female mammal,
e.g. the breast or udder.
Mange: an infectious skin disease of animals and sometimes humans that is caused by
mites and results in hair loss, scabs, and itching.
Mastitis: an infection or inflammation of the mammary gland.
Maternal antibody: antibody in a new born animal acquired from mother through the
placenta or colostrum.
Medicine: the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, wounds, and injuries, a drug or
remedy used for treating illness
Melena: darkening of the stool; due to presence of digested blood in it, which
indicates bleeding in the stomach or intestine.
Metastasis: the spread of a cancer from the original tumor to other parts of the body
by means of tiny clumps of cells transported by the blood or lymph.
Methaemoglobinaemia: a condition of the blood in which there are large amounts of
methaemoglobin.
Microorganism: a single-celled life form that is invisible to the naked eye and that
may cause disease in man and animals.
Mineralocorticoids: hormones which regulate the amount of sodium, potassium and
chloride in the blood.
Motility: movement
Mucolytic: breaks down mucous.
Mucopolysaccharide: a carbohydrate which also contains a hexosamine molecule
and is a component of mucous.
Mocosa: see Mucous membrane:
Mucous membrane: specialized membrane which covers various passages and
cavities exposed to the air such as the mouth, nose, inner portion of the eyelids, and
vagina.
Myasthenia gravis: a neuromuscular disease in which there is a failure of the nerves’
ability to stimulate and control the action of certain muscles.
Myiasis: Maggot infestation; an infestation of living tissue or an organism by
maggots such as fly larvae. It can affect the skin, eyes, digestive tract, or open
wounds.
Mycosis: disease caused by a fungus such as blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, or
ringworm.
Mydriasis: excessive dilation of the pupils of the eye, usually caused by prolonged
drug therapy, coma, or injury to the eye
Myelogram: radiography of the spinal cord taken after a contrast dye is injected into
the space around the spinal cord.
Nebulize: convert into a fine spray.
Necrosis: the death and break down of cells.
Neoplasia: Tumor; Abnormal growth and accumulation of cells. Neoplasia may be
benign or malignant.
Nephropathy: abnormal functioning of the kidney.
Nephrotoxic: destructive to kidney cells.
Neuropathy: abnormal functiong of the nerves.
Neurotransmitter: chemical used as a messenger from one nerve cell to another.
Neuter: surgical removal of the testicles.
Nocturnal: animal that is active during the night.
Nodule: solid bump/lump in the skin that is more than 1/3 inch in diameter; a small
mass of cells or tissue, which may be a normal part of the body or a growth such as a
tumor
Nonpathogenic: not causing disease.
Nonseptic: not of infectious origin.
Nutrient: a substance that provides nourishment, e.g. the minerals that a plant takes
from the soil or the constituents in food that keep a human body healthy and help it to
grow
Nystagmus: constant involuntary movement of the eyeball often from side to side.
Offal: animal organs rejected at slaughter as unfit for human consumption. E.g.,
spleen, intestine, brain, and lungs.
Otic: pertaining to the ear.
Ototoxic: destructive to the structure s of the ears.
Over the counter: medicine that can be purchased without a prescription, like aspirin
and vitamins.
Ovulate: the release of an egg from the ovary.
Palpation: medical examination using fingers; method of clinical examination using
gentle pressure of the fingers to detect growths, changes in the size of underlying
organs, and unusual tissue reactions to pressure
Pancreatitis: inflammation of the pancreas.
Pannus: a chronic condition of the eye in which the blood vessels grow across the
cornea.
Papule: a solid bump on the skin less than 1/3 inch diameter.
Parenterally: a term used to describe the administration of a drug by means other
than by mouth.
Parturition: act of giving birth.
Pathogenic: causing disease
Pediculosis: infestation with lice.
Perineal: the area between the anus and the genital organ.
Peritonitis: inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Phagocyte: cell in the body which eats damaged cells and foreign substances such as
virus and bacteria.
Photosensitivity: a condition in which skin reacts abnormally to light, especially the
ultraviolet light or the sunlight.
Phytoestrogen: substance which has an activity similar to estrogens and is produced
by plants.
Placebo: a substance which is given that ahs no therapeutic value, often called a
dummy pill or sugar pill.
Plaque: a build up of bacteria, saliva, and food on the teeth. See also tartar.
Platelets: cellular component of blood that helps in clotting.
Polyarthritis: arthritis which involves two or more joints.
Polydactyl: many toes.
Polydipsia: Excessive thirst.
Polyestrous: animals coming into repeated heat if not bred in one sexual season.
Polyp: a small stalk-shaped growth sticking out from the skin or from a mucous
membrane. Polyps are usually benign, but some become malignant.
Polyphagia: Excessive ingestion of food.
Polyuria: excessive urination.
Post-operative: after surgery
Premonitory: an advance warning about a future event
Prion - short for proteinaceous infectious particle (-on by analogy to virion) — is a
type of infectious agent composed only of protein. They cause a number of diseases in
a variety of animals, including BSE in cattle and CJD in humans. All known prion
diseases affect the structure of the brain or other neural tissue, and all are untreatable
and fatal
Proestrus: the stage of the estrous cycle right before an animal comes into heat.
Progesterone: a hormone produced by the ovaries which is responsible for the
continuation of pregnancy.
Prolactin: a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of
mammary tissue and production of milk.
Prolapse: a slippage or sinking of a body organ or part such as a valve of the heart
from its usual position
Pruritis: itching
Pus: the yellowish or greenish fluid that forms at sites of infection, consisting of dead
white blood cells, dead tissue, bacteria, and blood serum
Pustule: small elevated area on the skin filled with pus.
Pyoderma: an infection of the skin usually the result of a bacterial invasion.
Pyometra: infection of the uterus.
Queen: a female cat used for breeding.
Queening: In cats, the act of giving birth.
Resistance: the ability to remain unaltered by the damaging effect of something, e.g.
an organism's ability not to succumb to disease or infection
Resorption: in preganacy, a condition in which the fetus dies and instead of being
aborted, the fetal tissue dissolves within the uterus and is absorbed by the mother.
Retina: the rear interior of the eye.
Satellites - subviral agents composed of nucleic acids; they depend for their
multiplication on coinfection of a host cell with a helper virus (also known as the
master virus).
Scale: a thin flat piece or flake of something such as dead skin
Sclerosis: a hardening of the tissues, usually the result of chronic inflammation.
Scute: in turtles and tortoises, the plates which cover the bony portion of the shell.
Sebaceous gland: a gland in the skin which produces an oily substance.
Secondary infection: infection which occurs because the tissue and its natural
defenses have been damaged by another condition.
Seizure: attack; fit; spasm; convulsion; a sudden attack of an illness or condition,
especially of the kind experienced by people with epilepsy
Septic: a condition caused by an infection with bacteria or fungi or the toxins they
produce.
Serotype: a subdivision of a species of microorganism based upon its particular
antigen.
Singe: char, burn, scorch.
Spay: sterilization by surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female animal.
Sphincter: a ring-like band of muscle that constricts a passage or closes an opening.
Spirochete: a type of bacteria which is long, slender and assumes a spiral shape.
Stenosis: a constriction or narrowing of a duct, passage, or opening in the body
Stover: Corn stalks used as fodder; leaves and stalks of corn that are left in a field
after harvesting and are dried for use as fodder
Subcutaneous: under the skin.
Subluxation: a partial dislocation of a joint in which the bones become out of
alignment but the joint itself is intact.
Sulfonamides: a class of antibacterial which contain sulfur.
Superfecundation: having a litter with more than one father (or breeding).
Susceptible: vulnerable, prone, more inclined, at risk
Synergist: an agent that enhance the action of another.
Synovial: pertaining to a joint.
Systemic: through out the body.
Tartar: a build up of bacteria, saliva and food on the teeth which becomes
mineralized, forming a hard coating and eventually causing gum disease and tooth
loss.
See also plaque.
Thrombocytopenia: a lower than normal number of platelets in the blood.
Tissue: organic body material in animals and plants made up of large numbers of
specialized cells that are similar in form and function and their related intercellular
substances. The four basic types of tissue are nerve, muscle, epidermal, and
connective.
Topical: to be used on the skin.
Torsion: the twisting of an organ.
Transmission: spread
Tumor: see neoplasm; abnormal growth or swelling.
Ulcer: a lesion in which the tissue surface is eroded away.
Ultrasound/ ultrasonography: a technique used to get the image of a deep structure
within the body by direction ultrasound waves at it and recording the reflections
(echoes) from it.
Umbilicus: the area of the body where the umbilical cord is attached; the belly button.
Uveitis: inflammation of the eye.
Vaccination: the act of giving a vaccine. (See also Immunization. The two words
have different meaning but are often confused); to inoculate a person or animal with a
vaccine to produce immunity to a disease
Vaccine: a preparation containing weakened or dead microbes of the kind that cause
a disease, administered to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against
that disease
Vasculitis: inflammation of blood vessels.
Vasodilatation: widening of the blood vessels, especially the arteries, leading to
increased blood flow or reduced blood pressure
Vasodilator: an agent which dilates or increases the diameter of blood vessels.
Vertebrate: animal with a vertebral column (spine).
Vesicle: small elevated area on the skin filled with a clear fluid.
Veterinary: relating to diseases of animals and their treatment
Viroids - plant pathogens that consist of a short stretch (a few hundred nucleobases)
of highly complementary, circular, single-stranded RNA without the protein coat that
is typical for viruses
Virulence: the quality of being extremely poisonous, infectious, or damaging, or the
extent to which a disease or toxin possesses this quality.
Vital signs: the signs of life which as pulse, respiration and temperature.
Wart: a benign growth caused by virus.
Wasting: loss of muscle mass due to decreased food intake or increased metabolic
rate
Whelping: in dogs, the act of giving birth
Xenobiotic: describes a chemical compound such as a drug or pesticide that is foreign
to the body of a living organism
Zoonotic: a disease which can be transmitted between animals and people.
General Medicine
Veterinary Medicine: Medicine is the science of treating diseases- the healing art.
Veterinary medicine is that branch of medical science which deals with the diagnosis,
treatment, prevention and general study of the diseases of animals, especially the
domesticated ones.
In order to practice veterinary medicine, one must be armed with thorough knowledge
of anatomy, physiology, parasitology, pathology, microbiology and pharmacology
and animal ethology to distinguish diseased from healthy ones.
How is the profession different from that of a medical profession?
1. Animal patients cannot express its subjective feelings.
2. A fair percentage of animal owners/attendants give wrong statement about the
animal’s illness, making the task more troublesome.
3. Animal patients do not cooperate while examination.
4. Various species of animals have different structures and functions of body
systems making the process of diagnosis more complicated.
5. a wide variation in normal physiology in different species of animals with
distinct behaviour of them make the task of diagnosis more cumbersome.
Veterinary medicine may be divided into two branches:
1. Clinical veterinary medicine (bed-side medicine, internal medicine, curative
medicine): that branch of veterinary medicine which covers the art of making a
correct diagnosis and extends the remedial and curative measures against diseases
of animals.
2. Preventive veterinary medicine: that branch which ensures measures to maintain
the health when the disease is imminent. It deals with all measures to control and
prevent animal diseases.
Health: it is the physical, physiological and mental well-being of an individual.
Disease: Dis= away; ease= comfort.
Any deviation from the normal physical, physiological and mental well-being of
an individual is known as disease.
History of Medicine
In ancient Greece Apollo was worshiped as the god of healing and built temples for
praying. Greek physicians were of the view that the disease occurred when the
balance of ‘humours’ were disturbed. Humours consisted of choler (yellow bile),
melancholy (black bile), phlegm, and the blood. Hippocrates was of this view too and
he initiated keeping clinical records of sick through daily observation which is
practiced to this day. Hence he is considered to be the father of medicine. This ancient
finding could not be improved upon and as the time went by church became more and
more powerful and they ruled and influenced people. Whatever church and clergy said
were always right. No one had any power to say anything against the church and
whoever said were punished. They explained that the disease was sent by god
whenever people displeased him, therefore people were required to listen to clergy
and pray to the gods to keep him happy so that he will not send disease as an
punishment for this reason ancient people prayed to the god for the cure of disease.
Science had no meaning that time and any one who studied science were suppressed
and punished by the church.
Later on slowly the thinking of the people changed and the scientific studies became
more and more important as the people started to demand for explanation. Science
made progress and the medical science and veterinary medicine also emerged along
with it.
Though detailed information is not available, mention on veterinary medicine are
found during the time of Aristotle in Greek, from Egypt record in papyrus are some
examples. In ancient India veterinary hospitals were established during the time of
king Ashoka and the treatments were ayurvedic. In Bhutan, though animal diseases
and the treatment existed there is no record available and still people in rural areas
have their own remedies for various disease conditions.
The economic and social pressure influenced the development of veterinary medicine
in the modern times. Devastation caused by Rinderpest in France (1710 – 1714) lead
to establishment of first veterinary school at Lyons. Student from all over Europe
went there for learning about the disease of cattle and horse and this lead into the
establishment of veterinary schools all over the Europe.
World War II had a big impact on animal medicine and food safety. New drugs
developed for soldiers during the war such as penicillin and sulfa drugs were later
used to treat livestock. The insecticide DDT was used during the war and later helped
kill flies and other outdoor parasites that hurt farm animals. The purveyor of these
new medicines for animals was the town doctor of veterinary medicine, and he or she
was a key part of the agricultural economy. During the war, the government thought
Midwestern cattle operations might be targets for sabotage. They were worried that
cattle might be contaminated by foreign infections, threatening the food supply.
Government veterinarians were hired and local vets were told to be on the alert.
After the war, veterinarians began to use new drugs to treat diseases such as foot rot
and shipping fever in cattle, as well as infections that killed baby chickens and
turkeys. As new drugs came out of the research institutions, they were used against
brucellosis, infectious anemia, worms, cholera, Newcastle disease, foot-and-mouth
disease, and rabies.
In India, the first army veterinary school was set in Poona and later on the cattle
plague forced to open veterinary colleges in Babugrah, Lahore, Bomaby and Culcatta.
In Bhutan, the first veterinary school was opened at Serbithang in the year 1979 after
an outbreak of Rinderpest in early 1970s, and the course was offered until CNR was
established in 1992. Now serbithang trains laboratory technicians to be recruited in
regional laboratories.