Word Definition
CASE Subject presenting the characteristics of the phenomenon studied. Example: a case of rabies (in humans or animals).

Note 1: in pathology, the phenomenon studied may be a clinically expressed disease, an inapparent infection, a change in biochemical constants in a subject or a positive response to a screening test, etc.Note 2: an outbreak may range from 1 case (imported dog infected with rabies) to several thousand cases (poultry farm infected with Newcastle disease).

Note 3: in human pathology, the epidemiological unit is most often the case, whereas in animal pathology, it is the outbreak.

Note 4: one quality criterion of an epidemiological study is the precision of the case definition.

[From the AEEMA Glossary of Epidemiology Terminology]

http://aeema.vet-alfort.fr/index.php/component/glossary/Glossaire-1/
CENTRAL COORDINATION BODY This brings together the people responsible for centralizing, analyzing and disseminating the data collected. It is responsible for coordinating the activities of the system and for leading the scientific and technical support unit. It is this group that reports to the steering committee on the results of the surveillance.
CENTRAL LABORATORY Reference laboratory supervising the analyses or, in certain very specific cases, the only laboratory authorized to carry out the analyses on behalf of the surveillance system.
COORDINATOR Person responsible for coordinating the surveillance system. The coordinator does not necessarily manage the system. The position is not always present or necessary.
CORRESPONDENCE TABLE OF TERMS USED This is the table that links the terms used in the OASIS tool documents to the terms commonly used in the surveillance system being evaluated. Completing this table helps to avoid misunderstandings when filling out the evaluation grid.
Sometimes referred to as a "terminology matching form”.
DATA Qualitative or quantitative element related to the health of individuals in a population, allowing the production of epidemiological information. Examples: patient, death, incidence, prevalence, age, sex, etc.
Note 1: the processing and analysis of epidemiological data produces epidemiological information. The study of the kinetics of a disease outbreak (incidence data) makes it possible to describe the epidemiological form of the disease (epidemiological information).
Note 2: data whose design and collection have been based on a previously formulated epidemiological objective are often of much greater relevance/quality than data collected for another reason (for example, accounting management) that one wishes to use for an epidemiological purpose.

[From the AEEMA Glossary of Epidemiology Terminology]

http://aeema.vet-alfort.fr/index.php/component/glossary/Glossaire-1/
DATA COLLECTORS Includes those directly involved in the system in the field who are responsible for detecting events and collecting data as defined in the surveillance protocol. Whatever their origin (private or public), they are above all actors who have regular contact with data sources.
DATA SOURCES Entities in which the data to be collected are located (livestock farm for an animal disease, food industry for a contaminant, farm for a plant disease, etc.).
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT Basic unit or group of basic units representing the relevant basis for the enumeration of a health phenomenon (animal, herd, food product, food industry, etc.).
EVALUATION CRITERION An evaluation criterion is a basic "brick" in the organization and operation of a surveillance system whose implementation is being assessed. In other words, one asks: is this criterion completely satisfied, only slightly satisfied or not satisfied at all?