Volume 16: Reference Material
Glossary
Dictionary references

Some definitions in this glossary are quoted directly from another source.These sources, abbreviated in the glossary, are listed below.

Term or abbreviation	Meaning (all words in bold type are defined in this glossary)
E
EA	Environment Agency (for England and Wales).
EAE	Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: an autoimmune disease that can be induced in various animals experimentally by the injection of myelin basic protein (from homogenised brain or spinal cord) with an immunostimulatory substance.
EC	(1) Usually, European Community (or Communities). When the European Union came into existence on 1 November 1993 as a result of the Maastricht Treaty, it incorporated but did not replace the EC. The term EC is still sometimes used in this context. Throughout the volumes of this Report, the term EU is more generally used for consistency's sake (even if sometimes chronologically incorrect), except where specific reference is made to the functions conferred by the European Community Treaty or to its legal effect. (2) Sometimes, European Commission (known as the Commission of the European Communities before 1993). See also Commissioner.
ECHS	Export Certified Herds Scheme.
ECT	Electro-convulsive therapy.
Ectoparasite	A parasite that lives on the exterior of its host.
EDC(P)	Cabinet committee concerned with the coordination and presentation of government policy.
EDS(O)	Officials' Committee on Science and Technology, a committee of officials from various Departments, chaired by the Chief Scientific Adviser. Established in 1992 to advise the Ministerial Committee on Science and Technology.
EEG	Electroencephalogram: graphic record of the regular, rhythmical change of electrical activity in the brain.
Effective dose	Dose required to produce a disease (for an organism) or a beneficial effect (for a therapy).
EHF	Experimental Husbandry Farm.
EHO	Environmental Health Officer.
Eland	A large antelope of the genus Tragelaphus, with spiral horns, native to Africa.
Electron microscope	A microscope which beams electrons at and through the object of interest, instead of light beams. This type of microscope provides the greatest resolution of extremely small details. Used for magnifying viruses, bacteria, etc. Magnification may be up to x 300,000.
Electrophoresis	The movement of suspended particles through a fluid or gel under the action of an electromotive force applied to electrodes in contact with the suspension.
ELISA	Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay. Refers here to a test to measure small amounts of a particular protein in solution, using specific antibodies to identify proteins. It has been applied to the detection of MBM in ruminant feed. If successfully applied, it can indicate whether there is mammalian protein in a straight or compound feed and, more specifically, the type of mammalian protein.
Elute	To remove by washing with a solvent.
EM	See electron microscope.
EMBO	European Molecular Biology Organisation.
Encephalopathy	A degenerative disorder of the brain.
Endocardium	A thin membrane lining the cavities of the heart.
Endocrine	Producing secretions (especially hormones) that are distributed in the body by way of the bloodstream.
Endemic	An endemic disease is one present in an animal population at all times. (BVD)
Enolase	An enzyme involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates.
Enteric	Of, relating to, or occurring in the intestines. (COD)
Enzootic	Disease present (endemic) among animals in a particular region, a country, or locality. For example, braxy and louping-ill are enzootic in sheep in the south and west of Scotland and the north of England. Cf. epizootic. (BVD)
Enzyme	A protein that catalyses chemical reactions of other substances without itself being destroyed or altered upon completion of the reactions.
EO	Executive Officer, civil service. The level between HEO and AO.
Eosinophil	A white blood cell containing granules which readily stain with the red dye eosin.
Epidemic	Term used to describe a disease affecting, or tending to affect, a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community or region at the same time.
Epidemiology	The statistical study of categories of persons and the patterns of diseases from which they suffer, with the aim of determining the events or circumstances causing these diseases. (IPCS)
Epitope	Specific region of an antigen that binds to an antibody or a T-cell receptor. Also known as the antigenic determinant. (Alberts)
Epizootic	Disease which affects a large number of animals in a large area of land at the same time and spreads with great rapidity: for example, foot-and-mouth disease and cattle plague. It is the equivalent term to epidemic in humans. (BVD)
ESF	European Science Foundation, made up of over 60 research funders in wider Europe. The ESF does not fund research itself, but provides a forum to facilitate scientific and policy interchanges and joint actions between research councils where appropriate. Current president is Sir Dai Rees.
E(ST)	Ministerial subcommittee, dealing with science and technology, of the Ministerial Steering Committee on Economic Strategy.
Ester	A compound formed from an alcohol and an acid by elimination of water. (BVD)
ET50	The exposure time required to produce a defined effect in 50 per cent of a test population when it is exposed to a fixed concentration dose of a substance.
Ether	A light volatile flammable liquid (C4H10O) used chiefly as a solvent and anaesthetic.
Etiology	US spelling of aetiology.
EU	European Union. See also EC.
Eucaryote; eukaryote	Organism composed of one or more cells with a distinct nucleus and cytoplasm. Includes all forms of life except viruses and bacteria. (Alberts)
EURA	European Renderers' Association.
European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances (EINECS)	A list of all chemicals contained in preparations supplied to any person in European Community Member States at any time between 1 January 1971 and 18 September 1981. (IPCS)
Exitotoxicity	The death of nerve cells as a result of abnormally prolonged stimulation, produced by increasing the duration and effective concentration of a neurotransmitter at the cell synapse (the point at which a nervous impulse passes from one nerve cell to another).
Exon	Part of a gene that can encode amino acids in a protein. Usually adjacent to a non-coding DNA segment called an intron. (Alberts)
Expert Group on Animal Feedingstuffs	Expert working group commissioned in 1991 to review the regulatory framework of the animal feed industry in relation to human health. Also known as the Lamming Committee.
Extraneural tissues	Tissues outside the nervous system.
Exudate	Fluid cells or cellular debris which seeps from blood vessels into a body cavity or the tissues, often as a result of disease.
F
F1-generation	The first generation from a breeding pair.
FAC	Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives.
Familial	Tending to occur in more members of a family than expected by chance alone.
FAO	United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Fasciculation	Brief spontaneous contraction affecting a small number of muscle fibres. (COD)
FCG	Funders Coordination Group (also known as the TSE R&D Funders Coordination Group, or Swales Committee). Ensures that funded TSE R&D programmes address priority issues of national interest and together constitute a coherent strategy.
FEFAC	Fédération Européenne de Fabricants d'Aliments Composés pour Animaux.
FFI	Fatal Familial Insomnia, a rare human familial neurodegenerative disease shown to be caused by a prion gene mutation.
FFMW; FFW	Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers.
Fibril	A small or slender fibre (adjective: fibrillar). (COD)
Fibrosis	The formation of fibrous tissue, which may replace other tissue. (BVD)
First-order process	A chemical process where the rate is directly proportional to the amount of chemical present. (IPCS)
FLC	Farming and Livestock Concern.
Fluoroacetimide	Organochloride chemical used as rat poison, spilled in Smarden (Kent) in 1963.
Form A restrictions	Served on individual animals in which BSE cannot be ruled out as a possible cause of their condition. This notice restricts the animal to a specified location unless licensed by a Veterinary Inspector to be moved elsewhere. Milk from the animal may be fed only to its own calf, and pregnant animals have to be kept in isolation during and after calving.
Formalin	A colourless solution of formaldehyde in water used as a preservative for biological specimens, etc.
Frameshift	Relating to, being, or causing a mutation in which a number of nucleotides not divisible by three are inserted or deleted so as to change the reading frame of some triplet codons during genetic translation.
Frenzy	The frenzy or inflammation of the brain is a cattle disease described in 1819 in Knowlson's Yorkshire Cattle Doctor and Farrier.
Frontal lobe	The part of the cerebrum at the front of the head, responsible for higher thought processes.
FSE	Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy, first discovered in a cat in 1990.
FSH	Follicular Stimulating Hormone.
FSH circular	Food Standards and Hygiene circular produced by MAFF's Meat Hygiene Division to guide local authorities when implementing Regulations related to meat hygiene. Issued to the local authority's Chief EHO.
G
GAFTA	Grain and Feed Trade Association.
Gametes	The reproductive cells in multicellular organisms. Also called germ cells.
Gastric	Of, or relating to, the stomach.
Gastrointestinal	Of, relating to, affecting, or including both stomach and intestine.
GATT	General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
GB	Great Britain, comprising England, Wales and Scotland.
Gelatine/gelatin	Colourless, transparent, jelly-like material, derived from collagen, and obtained by the boiling of animal bones and hides.
Gel electrophoresis	Electrophoresis in which molecules (such as proteins and nucleic acids) migrate through a gel, especially a polyacrylamide gel, and separate into bands according to size.
Gemsbok	An African antelope. Not a ruminant. Cf. the nyala.
GEN 7	Ministerial group dealing with food safety, set up under Mr John Major.
Gene	That part of the DNA molecule which carries the information defining the sequence of amino acids in a specific polypeptide chain. (IPCS)
Gene locus	The position in a chromosome of a particular gene.
Genome	The complete set of genetic material of an organism. (COD)
Genotype	The genetic constitution of an individual organism. (COD)
Germ cells	See gametes.
GFAP	Gliol fibrillary acidic protein, a protein found in microfilaments of glial cells (see gliosis).
Gid	A fatal disease of sheep and goats [and occasionally in cattle], marked by loss of balance and caused by larvae of the dog tapeworm encysted in the brain. Also known as sturdy. (COD)
Gimmer	Female sheep after her first shearing. (DOA)
Gliosis	The production of a dense network of neuroglia (specialised cells that surround neurons).
Globulin	A class of proteins which are insoluble in water and alcohol and soluble in weak salt solution. (BMD)
Glutamic acid	An amino acid, a precursor of glutamine.
Glutamine	An amino acid which is a constituent of most proteins.
Glycine	The simplest naturally occurring amino acid, a general constituent of proteins. (COD)
Glyco-	A prefix meaning of the nature of, or containing, sugar. (BMD)
Glycoform pattern	The distinctive pattern produced following electrophoresis of protease-digested prion protein.
Glycoprotein	A protein that has gone through the process of glycosylation. PrP is a glycoprotein.
Glycosylation	The process by which proteins are modified by the addition of sugars (carbohydrates).
Glyphosate	A major herbicide which kills a plant after being absorbed through its leaves or through its roots if applied to the soil. (DOA)
GMO	Genetically modified organism.
Gonadotrophin	Hormone, secreted by the pituitary gland, which controls the activities of the testes and ovaries. Human pituitary-derived gonadotrophin was once used as an infertility treatment for women. Some women following this treatment developed CJD from infected pituitaries.
Grades 1 to 7	Grades in the civil service (from the most senior downwards):Grade 1 - Permanent SecretaryGrade 1a - Second Permanent SecretaryGrade 2 - Deputy SecretaryGrade 3 - Under SecretaryGrade 4 - Executive DirectorGrade 5 - Assistant SecretaryGrades 1 to 5 are the top levels of civil service employment, now known collectively as the Senior Civil Service (SCS). Grade 6 - Senior PrincipalGrade 7 - PrincipalSEO - Senior Executive OfficerHEO - Higher Executive OfficerEO - Executive Officer.
Grass staggers	Staggers in cattle, caused by hypomagnesaemia. (DOA)
Great Britain	The island in the British Isles that comprises England, Scotland and Wales. Cf. UK.
Greaves	A product of the rendering process, after the extraction of tallow, which is further processed into meat and bone meal. See rendering.
Green offal	Referred to in this Report as intestinal material still containing faeces.
Green-top milk	Unpasteurised milk.
Grey matter	Those parts of the brain and spinal cord that contain tightly packed nuclei of nerve cells, and are darker in colour than white matter, which is largely made up of the axons of nerve cells.
GSS	Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome, a rare familial spongiform encephalopathy, now known to be associated with mutations in the PrP gene. Also known as Gerstmann-Sträussler syndrome.
Gyrus (plural: gyri)	An outward fold on the surface of the brain. Cf. sulcus.
H
H&E	Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. A standard stain for examining tissue sections by light microscopy.
Habenular nucleus	A part of the brain near the midbrain (mesencephalon).
HACCP principles	Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point. HACCP is a structured approach to assessing the potential hazards in an operation and deciding which are critical to the safety of the consumer.
HAT	Hygiene Advice Team of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS).
HDC	Horticultural Development Council.
HEF	Health Aspects of the Environment and Food Division, DH. Formed on 1 April 1995 on merger of HEF(M) and HEF(A).
HEF(A)	Health Aspects of the Environment and Food Administrative Division, DH. Merged with HEF(M) on 1 April 1995 to form HEF.
HEF(M)	Health Aspects of the Environment and Food Medical Division, DH. Merged with HEF(A) on 1 April 1995 to form HEF.
HEI	Higher Education Institutions, eg, Universities.
Helix (plural: helices)	A spiral structure in a macromolecule (adjective: helical). See alpha-helix.
HEO	Higher Executive Officer, civil service. The level between SEO and EO.
Heparin	A naturally produced anticoagulant that is found especially in liver, and which is often used medically.
Hepatitis	Inflammation of the liver. In cattle and sheep, it can occur after liver fluke, ragwort poisoning and aflatoxicosis [fungus poisoning]. (BVD)
Heptane	An organic solvent (C7H16).
Heteromeric	Describing a molecular complex composed of two or more dissimilar subunits.
Heterozygous	Having two different alleles of the same gene.
HGCA	Home Grown Cereals Authority.
hGH	Human growth hormone. At one time made from post-mortem pituitaries, inadvertently contaminated with the CJD agent, and now known to have transmitted CJD to a small number of those treated with hGH for short stature.
Hindbrain	The pons, the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum: the posterior of the three principal divisions of the brain.
Hippocampus	The system of elongated ridges on the floor of the lateral ventricles of the brain, thought to be the centre of emotion, memory and the autonomic nervous system. (COD)
Histidine	An amino acid, from which histamine is derived.
Histoblotting	A method used to detect one or more specific proteins in a complex protein mixture. The protein mixture is fractionated and immobilised onto a solid membrane of either nitro-cellulose or nylon, and the membrane then incubated with an antibody raised against the protein or proteins of interest. The banding pattern that results is often referred to as a histoblot.
Histology	The study of cells and tissues at the microscopic level (adjective: histological).
Homomeric	Describing a molecular complex composed of identical subunits.
Histopathology	The study of microscopic changes in diseased tissues. (IPCS)
HMG	Her Majesty's Government.
Homogenised	Blended to make smooth, with an even distribution of particles.
Homologue	In genetics, one member of a related pair of chromosomes.
Homozygous	In genetics, having two identical alleles of the same gene.
Horizontal transmission	Transmission within a population other than by genetic or maternal transmission. Cf. vertical transmission.
Hound ataxia	Condition reported in England in 1981 which affected hunt kennel hounds that were fed mainly stomach meat. When this food became difficult to obtain, it ceased to be the main item of diet and the ataxia also stopped. (BVD)
HS4	Health Services 4, the DH administrative division that supported the medical division on food safety issues, largely in relation to microbiological issues.
HSAC	Health Services Advisory Committee, a committee advising the HSE.
HSC	Health and Safety Commission.
HSE	Health and Safety Executive. Provides the HSC with policy, technological and professional advice.
HSO	Higher Scientific Officer: civil service grade for scientists.
Humoral	Relating to, or being that part of immunity or the immune response which involves antibodies secreted by B-cells and circulating in bodily fluids.
Huntington's disease (HD)	Hereditary disease characterised by involuntary movements and dementia. (BMD)
Husbandry	Economic management of a farm; care, cultivation and breeding of crops and animals.
Hybrid	An offspring of two animals or plants of different races, breeds, varieties, species, or genera.
Hydrolysis	The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water. (COD)
Hydrophobic	Avoiding water.
Hyperaesthesia	Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as pain or touch. (Taber)
Hyperbaric	Of, relating to, or utilising greater than atmospheric pressure.
Hyperplasia	The abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in a tissue.
Hypochlorite	A salt or ester of hypochlorous acid, often used as a disinfectant.
Hypomagnesaemia	A condition in which there is too little magnesium in the bloodstream. Hypomagnesaemia is of particular importance in cattle, and occurs when a herd is turned on to lush spring grass after being stall fed during the winter. An interval of a few days elapses before symptoms appear. Signs: shivering, a staggering gait ('staggers'), excitement, convulsions, and paralysis may precede death. In a less acute form of hypomagnesaemia the animals appear 'nervy' - responding violently to sensations of touch or sound - and there may be muscular tremors. Treatment must be prompt and consists in the intravenous injection of magnesium salts. Successful in perhaps 75 per cent of cases. (BVD)
Hypothalamus	A region of the forebrain below the thalamus which contains nerve centres for the regulation of certain vital processes: metabolism, body temperature and emotional behaviour.
I
IADR	Institute for Animal Disease Research. Now the IAH.
IAH	Institute for Animal Health, Compton, Berkshire.
Iatrogenesis	Any adverse mental or physical condition induced in a patient through the effects of treatment by a physician or surgeon (adjective: iatrogenic). (Taber)
IBNC	Idiopathic Brainstem Neuronal Chromatolysis. Discovered by Dr Martin Jeffrey in a study of brain tissue from suspects found to be BSE-negative. Also called BBD.
ICI	Imperial Chemical Industries.
ID	Information Division, DH. The Press Office is part of this division.
IDCAF	Interdepartmental Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs. This advised government on all aspects of animal feedstuffs and was disbanded on the assumption that the Expert Group on Animal Feedingstuffs would be set up.
IEHO	Institution of Environmental Health Officers; subsequently known as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).
IG	Integrated Genetics, Framingham (Massachusetts).
IGER	Institute of Grassland and Environment Research, Aberystwyth.
Ileum	The last portion of the small intestine.
ILGRA	Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment, set up to keep under review developments in the fields of risk assessment, risk management, risk perception and risk communication. Reported in January 1996.
Immediately dangerous to life or health concentration (IDLH)	The maximum exposure concentration from which one could escape within 30 minutes without any escape-impairing symptoms or any irreversible health effects. (IPCS)
Immune response	The reaction of the body to substances that are foreign or treated as foreign. It may take various forms, eg, antibody production, cell-mediated immunity, immunological tolerance, or hypersensitivity (allergy). (IPCS)
Immunoblot	A method for detecting small amounts of biological materials including diseased PrP. It can therefore be used to diagnose TSEs: the materials are separated in an electric field, and transferred to a sheet on which they can be stained. See also western blot. The method requires tissue which is frozen and then homogenised, and cannot be used on material which has been fixed in formalin. In the past most tissue samples were fixed in formalin for pathological diagnosis.
Immuno-cytochemistry	Techniques for staining cells or tissues using labelled antibodies against specific proteins. The labelled antibody is either coloured or fluorescent, so that the protein can be identified.
Immunodeficiency	Impaired immunity resulting from inherited or acquired abnormalities of the immune system, leading to increased vulnerability to infection. (BMD)
Immunofluorescence	The labelling of antibodies or antigens with fluorescent dyes, especially for the purpose of demonstrating the presence of a particular antigen or antibody in a tissue preparation.
Immunomodulatory compound	A substance that affects the functioning of the immune system.
Immunosuppression	The suppression (usually by drugs) of natural immune responses.
In utero	In the uterus (womb).
In vitro	In the glass (test tube), ie, observations outside the body. Cf. in vivo experiments.
In vivo	Observations inside the living body. Cf. in vitro experiments.
Incidence	A measure of the frequency of disease. Incidence refers specifically to the number of new cases of a disease during a particular period of time.