Enzootic

refers to a disease (can be either low or high morbidity) that is endemic in an animal community.

Epidemic

the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness (or outbreak) with a frequency clearly in excess of normal expectancy.

Epidemiology

branch of science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population; the sum of the factors controlling the presence or abundance of a disease or pathogen.

Epizootic

a disease of generally high morbidity that rapidly spreads through an animal population.

Etiological agent

the organism that causes a disease.

Etiology

the cause or origin of a disease.

Fluoroquinolone

a class of antibiotic.

Foodborne illness

a sickness caused by food contaminated with microorganisms, chemicals, or other substances hazardous to human health.

Genetic adaptability

the ability of a microorganism to adapt to its environment, often allowing it to avoid detection or an immune response generated against it.

Genome

the complete genetic composition of an organism (e.g., human, bacterium, protozoan, helminth, or fungus), contained in a chromosome or set of chromosomes or in a DNA or RNA molecule (e.g., virus).

Genomics

a branch of biotechnology concerned with applying the techniques of genetics and molecular biology to the genetic mapping and DNA sequencing of sets of genes or the complete genomes of selected organisms using high-speed methods, organizing the results in databases, and with applications of the data (as in medicine or biology).

Glycoprotein

a conjugated protein in which the nonprotein group is a carbohydrate.

Gram-negative

refers to the inability of a microorganism to accept a certain stain. This inability is related to the cell wall composition of the microorganism and has been useful in classifying bacteria.

Gram-positive

refers to the ability of a microorganism to retain a certain stain. This ability is related to the cell wall composition of the microorganism and has been useful in classifying bacteria.

Haplotype

a group of alleles of different genes (as of the major histocompatibility complex) on a single chromosome that are closely enough linked to be inherited usually as a unit.

Hemagglutinin

a molecule, such as an antibody or lectin, that agglutinates red blood cells.

Hemoglobin

iron-containing respiratory pigment of vertebrate red blood cells that functions primarily in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body.

Front Matter (R1-R30)

Executive Summary (1-18)

1. Introduction (19-22)

2. Spectrum of Microbial Threats (23-52)

3. Factors of Emergence (53-148)

4. Addressing the Threats: Conclusions and Recommendations (149-226)

Epilogue (227-230)

Glossary (231-240)

References (241-276)

Appendix A: Microbial Threats to Health Public Committee Meeting Agendas (277-280)

Appendix B: Syndromic Surveillance (281-312)

Appendix C: Pathogen Discovery, Detection, and Diagnostics (313-330)

Appendix D: Forum on Emerging Infections Membership and Publications, Board on Global Health (331-334)

Appendix E: Computational Modeling and Simulation of Epidemic Infectious Diseases (335-342)

Appendix F: Committee and Staff Biographies (343-352)

Index (353-367)