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Quarantine words uncovered
Glossary of terms
Note. These definitions do not cover all of the meanings of each word.
Acute
In reference to a disease, this means a sudden onset.
Allergic reaction
A sensitivity to a normally harmless item that results in a health problem, such as a rash or sneezing. Examples of allergic reactions are hayfever and hives.
Aphid
A small plant-sucking insect.
AQIS
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Aquaculture
The farming of fish, other animals, or plants, in water.
Aquatic
Refers to an animal or plant that lives in or grows in water.
Bacteria
Microscopic organisms which can cause disease in plants and animals. They are responsible for the decay of organic matter. They multiply by simply dividing.
Biological control
The use of natural enemies of a pest or disease to control its spread.
Carrier
1. In quarantine this term often refers to an organism, or some other object such as a vehicle, that is able to transport a pest or disease over some distance.
2. Animals that have a disease, show no signs of it, and yet they can spread it to other animals.
Cell
In biology a cell is usually the smallest unit of a living organism. We are made up of millions of microscopic cells.
Cereal plant
A plant that has a grain, such as wheat, barley, oats, rice and maize.
Chlorophyll
The green colouring of leaves and plants. When sunlight acts on chlorophyll it starts a number of chemical reactions that give energy to plants.
Conservation
The management of the natural environment so that animals and plants are protected from harm.
Consumer
Someone who buys goods.
Contagious
A disease that is described as contagious is one that can be spread between people or animals, often by contact.
Contaminated
Usually in quarantine, contamination means that something is carrying a pest or a disease.
Crustacean
Usually aquatic animals such as yabbies, lobsters, prawns and crabs.
Cyst
A bag with a thin skin containing soft material such as fluid or a parasite.
Decay
To decompose or rot away.
Defoliate
To remove the leaves of plants.
Degradation
The breakdown of something, often into matter that is less organised or less useful.
Diagnosis
The identification of a disease or condition by investigation.
Dinoflagellates
Microscopic organisms that live in the sea.
Disease
An abnormality of the body or part of the body. This term can be used for both plants and animals.
Disinfect
To destroy germs.
Disinfectant
A chemical which destroys germs.
Dormant
An inactive state. Some organisms have a dormant state which allows them to survive for long periods without the use of much energy.
Ecology
The study of the relationships between life forms and their environment.
Encephalopathy
A disease of the brain.
Epidemic
A disease outbreak which affects a number of people at the same time, usually in the same location.
Equestrian
Relating to the riding of horses.
Equine
Relating to horses.
Eradicate
To remove completely.
Exotic
Something that is foreign to a country.
Export
Sending goods out of a country.
Faeces
Waste matter from the intestine of an animal.
Feral
A wild animal, often one that has escaped from a farming community, such as a pig or goat. Sometimes this term also applies to plants.
Fumigate
For quarantine, it is to treat something with gases to get rid of pests.
Fungi
Simply organised plants composed of thread-like filaments made up of small cells. Fungi reproduce by forming spores.
Fungicide
Something that kills fungi.
Galls
Hard round growths caused by insects, fungi or bacteria. Galls grow on plants.
Germinate
To begin plant growth or development.
Habitat
The place where an animal or plant is normally found.
Harbour
When something harbours an organism, it conceals or carries it.
Herbicide
A chemical that kills plants.
Hibernate
To spend the winter in an inactive state, usually to save energy.
Horticulture
The production of fruit and vegetables.
Host
A living organism on which another plant or animal lives at the expense of host.
Illegal
Against the law, unlawful.
Importation
Bringing goods into a country.
Imports
Goods brought into a country.
Indigenous
A native organism, not exotic.
Infection
The presence of microorganisms.
Infectious
Something that is able to cause or spread a disease caused by microorganisms.
Infestation
The presence of pests and diseases.
Insect
A large class of animals which have six legs.
Insecticide
A chemical that kills insects.
International mail
International mail includes standard letters, parcel post, express mail and registered mail.
Introduced
When used to refer to plants or animals, this term means the plant or animal is not native to a country.
Invasion
The spread of something that is likely to cause problems or be harmful.
Larvae
A stage in the growth of an insect.
Lesion
Wound or a sore or abnormal tissue due to disease.
Mammal
The highest class of animals including humans, which suckle their young.
Marine
Living in or found in the sea.
Marsupial
An animal which carries its young in a pouch, as occurs with the kangaroo.
Micro-organism
A very small life form. Bacteria, viruses and some fungi are examples.
Mildew
A plant disease caused by a fungus. Usually it results in a coating over the plant.
Mite
A small animal, related to spiders. Mites can destroy plants as they use them as a food source.
Molluscs
A group of organisms that include snails, shellfish, squids and octopuses.
Monotreme
The lowest class of mammals which lay eggs.
Mould
Fungi, or the growths that are produced by fungi.
Native
When used for a plant or animal, it refers to one which normally inhabits a country, and has not been introduced to that country.
Necrotic
Refers to a part of an organism that has died.
Nematode
Roundworms that often live in animals and plants.
Noxious
An animal, plant or disease which is declared harmful by law and which must be eradicated.
Nymph
A stage of growth of an insect.
Orchardist
Someone who grows large numbers of fruit trees.
Organism
Something which lives or has lived, such as a plant or animal.
Ovary
The part of a female animal or plant that produces eggs.
Parasite
A plant or animal which attaches to, in or on another and lives off it.
Pathogen
A microorganism that causes a disease.
Pathologist
Someone who studies diseases.
Pest
Anything causing damage or destruction.
Plant
A vegetable organism. In quarantine, plants include all plants, parts of plants whether living or dead, including stems, branches, tubers, bulbs, corms, stocks, budwood, cuttings, suckers, roots, leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds and seedlings.
Plant pest
Any plant or animal organism (such as insect, nematode, snail, fungus, bacterium, virus and weed) that can harm a plant.
Plant product
Any part of a plant. Timber is an example of a plant part.
Point of entry
A seaport, post office, mail exchange or airport where goods are imported.
Predator
An organism that attacks and destroys another.
Prion
Prions are very small microorganisms, even smaller than viruses, and are too small to be seen by a microscope.
Prohibited material
Any goods including plants, pests, soil, animals, animal pests, animal products which are described as prohibited by the Quarantine Act.
Protection
Quarantine protection aims to keep unwanted exotic pests and diseases out of Australia.
Protozoan
A microscopic organism that consists of a single cell.
Pupa
A stage of growth of an insect.
Quarantine
The period of isolation (originally 40 days) for plants, plant products, soil, insects, animals and animal products, suspected of being diseased or carrying a pest.
Quarantine station
A place where plants, soil and animals are kept for inspection and treatment (or where necessary destroyed) after having been imported or before being exported.
Range
In regard to animals and plants, this is usually the area over which they are found.
Rodent
An order of mammals with two large chisel-edged incisor teeth used for gnawing, such as rats.
Rural industries
Usually farm-based industries carried out in country areas and include growing crops and animals.
Rust
In biology a rust is a plant disease caused by a fungus.
Soil
The ground on the surface of the earth which provides food for plants.
Species
A group of animals or plants that all have the same common features and that normally breed with each other.
Spore
An object produced by an organism, and that under the right conditions can develop into that organism. Fungi and ferns produce spores, for example.
Strain
A particular type of an organism that has features which make it different from other organisms of the same species.
Surveillance
A watch that is kept. For example, quarantine surveillance of airports is a watch kept on passengers and cargo coming into the country.
Susceptible
In quarantine terms, this is a plant or animal that is capable of being affected by a disease organism, or that is likely to be attacked by a pest.
Symptom
A sign that a disease is present.
Therapeutic
Something which is used in treating a disease.
Thrips
Very small insects with long wings. They can be very destructive to plants.
Tick
A small eight-legged animal that sucks blood from animal by sticking a sharp probe under the skin.
Tissue
Any part of an organism.
Toxic
Poisonous.
Toxin
A poisonous chemical that is produced by an organism and which can cause a disease.
Trade
The business of buying and selling goods.
Vaccination
To treat an animal so that they do not get a disease. Usually this is done with a modified form of the organism (such as a virus) which causes the disease.
Venom
A poisonous fluid produced by some animals.
Vertebrate
Any animal with a backbone.
Virus
A virus is a very simple organism, smaller than bacteria, that lives and multiplies in other plants and animals and is capable of causing a disease.
Viticulture
The growing of grape vines.
X-ray machine
Scientific equipment used for the detection of plants, plant products, animals and animal products inside packaging. This equipment is used in airports, mail exchanges and courier depots.