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AMEBIASIS
Amebiasis is caused by the ingestion of an Entamoeba histolytica cyst. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody stools and fever. Water and any prepared food handled by an infected food handler with poor hygiene may cause contamination.

ANTIBIOTIC
A compound that interferes with the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are used (and misused) to kill bacterial infections in people and livestock.

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
The ability acquired by microorganisms to defend themselves against antibiotics. The recent overuse and misuse of antibiotics have rendered many antibiotics useless against various strains of foodborne illness including Salmonella, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.

ANTIMICROBIAL
See antibiotic.

APPROVED
Approved by a restaurant’s or food establishment’s local health department or other responsible agency.

ASYMPTOMATIC
Without obvious symptoms; not showing or producing indications of a disease or other medical condition, such as an individual infected with a pathogen but not exhibiting or producing any signs or symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, or jaundice.

AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS
Autoimmunity is a result of a misdirected immune system that causes one’s own immune system to attack itself. Rheumatic heart disease, multiple sclerosis, Graves disease, Sjogren syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, psoriasis, Kawasaki disease and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are all autoimmune disorders that have been linked to several foodborne bacteria including, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Yersinia and Clostridium.

AVIAN INFLUENZA
A highly contagious viral disease with nearly 100% mortality in fowl. Caused by influenza A virus subtypes H5 and H7. All types of birds are susceptible to the virus, but outbreaks occur most often in chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. A number of countries in Asia are experiencing outbreaks of avian influenza. Small numbers of people have become infected, causing serious illness and/or death. Human risk appears to result from exposure to live poultry rather than handling, cooking or eating poultry meat.