ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 90 Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 38 Interactive Classroom: 5 EEES Clinics: 16 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Animal Pathology
Areas: Animal Health
Center Faculty of Veterinary Science
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
• Know the main historical events that have contributed to the scientific development of infectious diseases.
• Know the basic concepts and terminology used in the study of infectious diseases.
• Understand the role that infectious agents, the host, and the environment play as determining factors in infectious disease.
• Understand the economic and health importance of infectious diseases.
• Knowledge and application of epidemiological studies in the study of infectious diseases.
• Carry out an adequate medical history (obtaining information about a disease).
• Collection of convenient samples and correct delivery to the corresponding diagnostic center, in order to diagnose a specific infectious disease.
• Be able to determine the origin of a disease whose cause is known and investigate and control a disease whose cause is unknown initially.
• Know the laboratory techniques most commonly used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, be able to use them, know how to interpret them and be able to assess them in their practical usefulness.
• Recognize the most important infectious diseases in dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs and horses from the differential point of view and based on epidemiological data, symptoms and injuries.
• Establish the most correct treatments and measures for medical, vaccine, biosecurity and management prophylaxis, in accordance with the farm system, to prevent the arrival of infectious diseases from abroad, or prevent the spread of existing diseases and lessen their effects when it is possible.
• Monitoring and evaluation of disease control programs.
The final objective will be that the student is in perfect conditions to practice professionally based on their specific knowledge of the subject, taking into account, above all, the criterion and applicability of the discipline.
Theoretical program:
The program consists of the following sections:
• BLOCK 1: GENERAL CONCEPTS
o Unit 1.- General concepts.
• BLOCK 2: INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF EQUIDS:
o Unit 2.- Influenza. Other respiratory infections.
o Unit 3.- Equine rhinoneumonitis.
o Unit 4.- Contagious metritis. Equine viral arteritis. Other reproductive diseases of interest.
o Unit 5.- Equine encephalomyelitis. West Nile fever. Other nervous diseases.
o Unit 6.- African horse sickness. Equine infectious anemia. Other diseases of interest.
• BLOCK 3: INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOGS AND CATS:
o Unit 7.- Canine respiratory complex. Feline respiratory syndrome.
o Unit 8.- Canine distemper.
o Unit 9.- Canine parvovirosis. Canine coronavirus. Bacterial infections of the digestive system. Feline panleukopenia.
o Unit 10.-. Feline infectious peritonitis.
o Unit 11.- Rabies.
o Unit 12.- Leptospirosis. Canine infectious hepatitis. Other infectious diseases of interest.
o Unit 13.- Lyme disease. Ehrlichiosis.
o Unit 14.- Feline leukemia. Feline immunodeficiency.
• BLOCK 4: INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF SUIDS:
o Unit 15.- Aujeszky's disease.
o Unit 16.- Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.
o Unit 17.- Porcine respiratory complex: Atrophic rhinitis. Bordetellosis. Pasteurellosis. Enzootic pneumonia. Porcine pleuropneumonia. Swine flu or influenza.
o Unit 18.- Enteric diseases: Colibacillosis. Transmissible gastroenteritis. Swine epidemic diarrhea. Necrotizing enteritis. Rotavirus infections. Swine dysentery. Intestinal spirochetosis. Ileitis. Salmonellosis.
o Unit 19.- Reproductive diseases: vaginal discharge syndrome. Postpartum dysgalaxia syndrome. Other reproductive diseases: Porcine parvovirosis. S.M.E.D.I syndrome. Other reproductive tract infections: leptospirosis, brucellosis.
o Unit 20.- Nervous diseases: edema disease. Porcine streptococcus. Glässer's disease.
o Unit 21.- Pig hemorrhagic diseases: Red disease. Classic swine fever. African swine fever.
o Unit 22.- Porcine circovirosis: multisystemic syndrome of post-weaning impairment.
• BLOCK 5: INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF RABBITS AND ANIMALS OF FURS:
o Unit 23.- Viral hemorrhagic disease.
o Unit 24.- Myxomatosis.
o Unit 25.- Rhino-pneumonic complex: pasteurellosis, bordellosis.
o Unit 26.- Colibacillosis. Enterotoxemias. Other digestive processes. Meliodosis. Tularemia. Yersiniosis. Aleutian mink disease.
o Unit 27.- Infectious diseases that occur with skin pathologies.
• BLOCK 6: ICHTHYOPATHOLOGY:
o Unit 28.- Main notifiable diseases in fish and other diseases of interest.
Approximate duration: 38 hours (2 hour block 1, 7 hours block 2, 11 hours block 3, 12 hours block 4, 5 hours block 5 and 1 hour block 6).
Clinical practices:
There will be 18 hours of practice divided into 5 sessions, all of them carried out on farms outside the USC:
• Practice 1 (EINF I C1): swine (intensive) (4h)
• Practice 2 (EINF I C2): equine (4h)
• Practice 3 (EINF I C3): companion animals (3h)
• Practice 4 (EINF I C4): rabbit production (3h)
• Practice 5 (EINF I C5): swine (extensive) (4h)
The content of these clinical practices will deal with different practical aspects of infectious diseases of animal species included in the agenda:
• Assessment of risk factors
• Assessment of the health situation of a farm / group
• Treatment and control of infectious diseases
NOTE: it is recalled that, under no circumstances, photos or videos of clinical practices may be taken without the express authorization of the owner of the facilities or the teacher in charge.
Basic
Books and manuals:
• ROSELL PUJOL J.M. 2000. Enfermedades del conejo. Vol II. Ed. Mundi-Prensa.
• RICHARDSON V.C.G. 2000. Rabbits: health, husbandry and diseases. Blackwell Science. Oxford, UK.
• SMITH W.J.; TAYLOR D.J.; PENNY R.H.C. 1990. A colour atlas of diseases and disorders of the pig. Ed. Wolfe Publishing Ltd. Ipswich.
• BARCELLOS D.; SOBESTIANSKY J. 2003. Atlas of swine diseases. Ed. Goiania. Goiás, Brasil.
• ZIMMERMAN J.J. ET AL. 2019. Diseases of swine, 11th edition. Wiley-Blackwell. Iowa, USA.
• EICH. K.O. 1990. Manual de enfermedades del cerdo. E. Grünland. Barcelona.
• SYKES J.; GREENE C. 2012. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 4th edition. Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, USA.
• SYKES J. 2014. Canine and Feline Infectious Diseases, 1st edition. Elsevier Saunders. St. Louis, USA.
• SELLON D.C.; LONG M.T. 2014. Equine infectious diseases, 2nd edition. Saunders Elsevier. St. Louis, USA.
• VAN DER KOLK J.H. ET AL. 2013. Infectious diseases of the Horse. Ed. Manson Publishing. Londres, UK.
• ROBERTS R.J. 2012. Fish Pathology, 4th edition. Wiley-Blackbell. Ames, Iowa, USA.
• WOO P.T.K.; BRUNO D.W. 2011. Fish Diseases and Disorders Volume 3, Viral Bacterial and Fungal Infections, 2nd edition. CAB International. Oxfordshire, UK.
Complementary
Books and manuals:
• KAHN C.M.; LINE S. 2012. Manual Merck de Veterinaria, 6ª edición. Océano, Barcelona, España.
• CONTRERAS A.; SÁNCHEZ A.; CORRALES J. C. 2001. Epidemiología veterinaria. Universidad de Murcia. Murcia.
• MACLACHLAN N.J. ET AL. 2017. Fenner´s Veterinary Virology, 5th edition. Academic Press, London, UK.
• MARKEY B. ET AL. 2013. Clinical Veterinary Microbiology, 2nd edition. Mosby Elsevier, St. Louis, USA.
• QUINN P.J. ET AL. 2017. Microbiología y enfermedades infecciosas veterinarias (2017). 2º edición. Editorial Acribia.
• RADOSTIS O. M. 2000. Examen y diagnóstico clínico en veterinaria. Mc Graw-Hill. México.
Webs of interest:
• https://www.merckvetmanual.com
• https://www.woah.org/es/que-hacemos/normas/codigos-y-manuales/
• https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/
• http://www.abcdcatsvets.org
• http://www.vetresponsable.es/vet-responsable/espanol/inicio_55_1_ap.html
• http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/
• http://www.neurovideos.vet.cornell.edu/index.aspx
Generic competences:
• Analysis and synthesis capacity (GVUSC-02).
• Ability to apply knowledge in practice (GVUSC-05).
• Ability to work autonomously and in teams (GVUSC-06).
Disciplinary competences:
• Basic and applied principles of the immune response (CEDVUSC-05).
• Knowledge and diagnosis of the different animal diseases, individual and collective, and their prevention measures, with special emphasis on zoonoses and notifiable diseases (CEDVUSC-08).
Professional competences:
• Carry out the history and clinical examination of the animals (D1VUSC-01).
• Collect and send specimens with their corresponding report (D1VUSC-02).
• Diagnosing the most common diseases, by using the complementary diagnostic protocols and techniques (D1VUSC-04).
• Carry out epidemiological studies and develop programs for the prevention, control and eradication of animal diseases, with special attention to notifiable diseases and zoonoses (D1VUSC-05).
Academic competences:
• Analyze, synthesize, solve problems and make decisions in the professional fields of the veterinarian (CEAVUSC-01).
• Know and apply the scientific method in professional practice including evidence-based medicine (CEAVUSC-05).
Cross-sectional competences:
• Ability for reasoning and argumentation (CTVUSC-01).
• Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information through various means, such as bibliographic information and the Internet, and analyze it critically (CTVUSC-02).
• Ability to prepare and present an organized and understandable text (CTVUSC-03).
• Ability to carry out a public presentation in a clear, coherent and concise manner (CTVUSC-04).
• Skill in managing ICTs. (CTVUSC-05).
• Use of information in a foreign language (CTVUSC-06).
• Ability to solve problems through the integrated application of their knowledge (CTVUSC-07).
Being this a subject oriented to future veterinary professionals, we intend to comply with the following basic methodological conditions:
a) Maintaining a balance between the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical skills; We must not forget that in this discipline a series of necessary skills must be acquired for the professional practice of veterinary medicine.
b) Promote the constant search for new information: this is not a static discipline and is in constant evolution, so it is necessary for the student to learn to look for new information, analyzing it from a critical position.
The training activities with the presence of the teacher will be:
• Master classes (large group; 35 h): lesson given by the teacher that may have different formats (theory, problems and / or general examples, general guidelines of the subject). The teacher can count on the support of audiovisual and computer media, but, in general, students do not need to manage them in class.
• Board practices (EINF I PE1-3) (large group; 3 h): theoretical-practical class in which students will receive training on practical aspects related to the practice of the profession, these aspects being discussed by all the students.
• Seminars (EINF I S1-3) (large group; 3 h): theoretical-practical class in which students will receive training on specific aspects related to the different animal species studied. As far as possible, an attempt will be made to invite renowned professionals from each of these sectors. Three 3h seminars will be offered, each of them focused on the different species studied. Students must register and attend the seminar in which they have enrolled; optionally, the students can also voluntarily attend the other seminars.
• Clinical practices (EINF I C1-5) (small / very small groups; 18 h): manual practices (“hands on training”) in which the student carries out clinical procedures and techniques on live animals or their carcasses, on visits to different farms or establishments in which the student carries out active work, not merely as an observer.
• Tutorials (EINF I T) (very small groups or individuals; 1 h): tutorials scheduled by the teacher or at the request of the student at established times, dedicated to supervising assignments, clarifying doubts about the subject, exercises, programs, readings or others proposed tasks, debate or comment on works.
Within this structure, we can describe several parts in this course:
A.- Theoretical work: the teacher will present the topics included in the program of the subject, and the student must acquire the basic knowledge of the discipline. The student must combine attendance at these theoretical classes with reading the recommended texts to expand their knowledge. Master classes, board practices, seminars and tutorials are included in this group. In all cases, the students will be provided with the schemes of the theoretical classes as well as various documents that will be used during the board practices and/or seminars.
B.- Work in groups of 4-5 students: two practical cases of the different species that they will have to solve independently during out-of-class hours and present them written. The students will have to investigate until establishing an action protocol and answer the questions posed based on the knowledge acquired through the theoretical classes, the recommended bibliography and the available information search tools. In general, and in order to equally distribute the workload throughout the whole semester, the students will have for each practical case half the semester; those cases will be facilitated and will have to be delivered resolved through the virtual classroom within the established deadline (half the semester for the first case and the last day of the teaching period for the second one). Apart from the two practical cases, students will also have to work in groups to complete a task on ichthyopathology during out-of-class hours. This will involve creating an infographic about one of the pathologies included in the syllabus that affect aquatic species. This project will be introduced at the beginning of the semester, and students will have the entire semester to complete and present it.
Any practical case or task presented after the deadline will not be considered.
C.- Practical Work: Throughout the course, the student must participate in the clinical practices of the subject, in order to develop the necessary skills for future professional practice. Because the development of the EINF I C5 practice involves performing invasive procedures on live animals, it is essential that students certify prior training in these procedures with animal models. To do this, students must train the procedures that will be carried out later in practice using the corresponding swine module in the Clinical Skills Classroom during out-of-class hours. To do this, students will be provided with instructions to carry out the required procedures. Before the development of the practice, it will be verified that all the students have previously carried out this activity, and those who do not prove this training will not be able to carry out the corresponding clinical practice.
For each practice, the knowledge acquired by the student will be evaluated through questionnaires, rubrics or similar tools; these evaluations will be done during the practical sessions. It should be noted that the completion of these practices is mandatory to pass the subject, as well as to obtain at least 4 points out of 10 in the total of the practical evaluation (average of the five sessions).
Supports to the course:
Throughout the course, students will have face-to-face support, being able to consult the different teachers of the subject, in the indicated tutoring hours. They will also have virtual support, being able to make inquiries via email.
In addition, in the "Infectious Diseases I" course of the USC VIRTUAL CAMPUS the student will find various content and communication tools. The purpose of this course is to integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) in the teaching of the subject.
The qualification of each student will be made through continuous evaluation and the completion of a final exam.
The continuous evaluation will represent the qualifications obtained both in the practical cases and the task on ichthyopathology that must be carry out in groups (4-5 students) and in the different activities of evaluation of clinical practices (questionnaires, evaluation by rubric, etc.).
Thus, the final evaluation of the student will consider the following aspects:
1. Compulsory completion of clinical practices and compulsory attendance at the selected seminar.
2. Practical cases and task on ichthyopathology: students will develop in groups of 4-5 people a total of two practical cases and a task on ichthyopathology throughout the course, which they will always deliver within the established term. The resolution of these and the knowledge of the subject demonstrated will be valued.
3. Evaluation of clinical practices, either by means of a questionnaire, rubrics or other evaluation methods. It will be mandatory to obtain at least 4 points out of 10 in the total evaluation of practices in order to pass the subject.
4. Written Exam: in this section the theoretical-practical knowledge achieved by the student will be assessed. A final exam will be held on the dates established in the Academic Program of the Veterinary Faculty, and it will be mandatory to obtain at least 5 points out of 10 in order to pass the subject. The final exam will be a test that will consist of:
• 40-50 test questions with only one answer among four possible options. Every 2 incorrect answers will discount one correct answer. The score for this part will represent 50% of the exam qualification.
• 4 short questions to develop schematically, that may contain subsections to answer briefly. Each question will be scored from 0 to 10 points, and the score for this part (average of the 4 questions) will represent 50% of the exam qualification.
• The exams of all the calls of the course will have a similar format and the final qualification will be calculated in the same way.
It should be noted that the content exposed in the seminars and board practices can also be included in the theoretical exam.
In cases of fraudulent performance or plagiarism of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións will apply.
After the publication of the provisional notes of each exam, the student will be able to review their exercise and raise any doubts, suggestions or claims that they consider appropriate. The date and place of the reviews will be published together with the exam scores.
Final Qualification of the Subject:
The final grade for the course will be as follows:
• Continuous evaluation: 35% of the final qualification distributed as follows:
o Practical assumptions: 20% (10% each one)
o Evaluation activities of clinical practices: 10%. To pass the course it will be mandatory to obtain at least 4 points out of 10 in the total activities.
o Task on ichthyopathology: 5%
• Written exam: 65% of the final qualification. To pass the course, the final exam will have to be passed with a qualification equal to or greater than 50% of its value (5/10 points).
In this subject, no total exemption is granted. Based on Instruction No. 1/2017 of the Secretaría General, those students who are granted with partial exemption will not have the obligation to attend the theoretical classes and board practices, but the obligation to attend clinical practices and the chosen seminar. Regardless of whether the partial exemption is granted or not, the evaluation system will be the same for all students, since in the activities in which partial exemption is granted, evaluation activities are not carried out in person.
Recommendations for the Evaluation:
It is highly recommended to participate in the practical cases and the task on ichthyopathology since they represent 25% of the final grade. It is also noteworthy that it is compulsory to attend to all clinical practices in order to pass the subject, as well as to attend at the selected seminar.
As for the recommendations when facing a final exam, it is important to remind students that it is essential to carefully read the statements of each question and all possible answers. In the short questions the student will have to adjust to what was asked and answer clearly and schematically.
Recommendations for Recovery:
It is important to take into account a series of aspects in the event that the student does not pass the subject in a given call:
• The grades of the written exams are not maintained, so the student must again examine the theoretical content of the subject.
• The qualifications obtained in the practical cases and the task on ichthyopathology will be saved, as well as the evaluation of the clinical practices, fulfilling the following requirements:
o In order to maintain the evaluation of the clinical practices, students must have attended all the practical sessions and have obtained at least 4 points out of 10 in the total of the practical evaluation.
o The evaluation of the practical cases, the task on ichthyopathology and clinical practices may be maintained for a maximum of two courses after the course in which the evaluation was carried out.
o The students who already have a previous qualification of the practical cases, the task on ichthyopathology and/or the clinical practices may request the repetition of the evaluation of one or both cases, the task on ichthyopathology or the complete set of clinical practices (individual practices cannot be repeated). In the event that the student wishes to repeat any of these activities, this would imply the resignation of the previous qualification that he had obtained for that activity. Students who want to repeat any of the continuous evaluation activities must notify to the subject coordinator at the beginning of the course.
On-site work in the classroom:
• Master classes: 35 h
• Clinical practices: 18 h
• Seminars: 3 h
• Board practices: 3 h
• Tutoring: 1 h
Total attendance hours: 60 h
Individual work of the student:
• Individual study: 49 h
• Elaboration of practical reports: 4 h
• Resolution of practical assumptions: 9 h
• Bibliographic review, library use, etc.: 4 h
• Attendance to other recommended activities: 1 h
• Resolution of cases/problems: 20 h
• Exams: 3 h
Total individual working hours of the student: 90 h
Total work of the student: 150 h
To study the content of the discipline, the following considerations will be taken into account:
• The differential diagnosis between the different infectious diseases that affect a certain animal species is essential. For its study and understanding, it is advisable to prepare synoptic tables that include the main epidemiological data, clinical signs and characteristic lesions of each of the diseases under study and to carry out a comparative study of the same based on similar and exclusive data for each one. of them.
• In order to learn the laboratory diagnostic techniques for each disease, it is convenient to classify the different infectious diseases by the etiological agent, independently of the affected animal species and the affected organic system. Subsequently, the main laboratory techniques applied for each disease will be noted and its analogy can be verified according to the etiologies of each disease:
o Analytical techniques for bacteria and depending on the type of bacteria, some more specific
o Analytical techniques for viruses and depending on the type of virus, some more specific, etc….
• For the study of the prevention, control and eradication measures of various diseases, it is convenient to carry it out in blocks of diseases that have general measures in common (eg: respiratory diseases, etc ...) and then study the measures. specific to some of the diseases.
• For the knowledge of the different vaccination guidelines against each infectious disease, it is always very useful to take into account at what time of year, age of affected animals or production phase where the disease appears most frequently and, therefore, when interested in using vaccination.
In conclusion, it is essential to learn the discipline from a differential and comparative point of view between the different infectious diseases under study and not the independent study of each one of them.
Finally, for the learning, study and understanding of the practical assumptions it is essential that the student does not lose at any time the practical sense that must be given in their development, applying the theoretical knowledge learned, but with a logical, economic and feasible vision, according to the mentality of the farmer, etc.
Materials:
Before their development in class, the summaries of the presentations that will be used in the theoretical sessions in pdf will be provided in the course of the subject in the Virtual Campus.
This material must be completed with the notes and notes taken in class.
Recommended work method and activities to be carried out:
The student must complete the presentation of the topics with the notes and clarifications made in the theoretical classes.
It is advisable to review the production systems that are reflected according to the species studied.
It is also important to review the materials of each species before carrying out the corresponding practices in order to get a better use of them.
Coordinator: Alberto Prieto Lago
Gonzalo Fernández Rodríguez
- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- gonzalo.fernandez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Alberto Prieto Lago
Coordinador/a- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- alberto.prieto [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
José Manuel Diaz Cao
- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- josemanueldiaz.cao [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) PhD Assistant Professor
Susana Remesar Alonso
- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- susana.remesar [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) PhD Assistant Professor
Cristiana Filipa Cazapal Monteiro
- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- cristiana.cazapal [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) PhD Assistant Professor
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS07 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS13 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS10 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS02 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS05 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS09 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS12 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS03 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS06 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS08 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS11 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS01 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS04 | Spanish | Classroom 4 |
| Wednesday | |||
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| Thursday | |||
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| 18:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 3 |
| 05.14.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 05.14.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |
| 05.14.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 06.30.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 06.30.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 4 |