What is an epizootic disease?

What is an epizootic disease?

• A. A disease that causes a large number of deaths in a population
• B. A disease that is both clinical and subclinical in a population
• C. A disease that suddenly affects a large number of animals
• D. A disease that affects both animals and humans

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how disease patterns show up in animal populations. An epizootic is a sudden, sharp increase in new disease cases within a population in a defined area and time—essentially an outbreak among animals. It’s the animal version of an epidemic in humans, defined by rapid and widespread incidence rather than by how many die or whether some cases are subclinical. Mortality alone doesn’t define an epizootic, and a mix of clinical and subclinical cases or a disease that crosses species isn’t what this term specifies. So the best description is a disease that suddenly affects a large number of animals.

The idea being tested is how disease patterns show up in animal populations. An epizootic is a sudden, sharp increase in new disease cases within a population in a defined area and time—essentially an outbreak among animals. It’s the animal version of an epidemic in humans, defined by rapid and widespread incidence rather than by how many die or whether some cases are subclinical. Mortality alone doesn’t define an epizootic, and a mix of clinical and subclinical cases or a disease that crosses species isn’t what this term specifies. So the best description is a disease that suddenly affects a large number of animals.