ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 90 Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 37 Interactive Classroom: 8 EEES Clinics: 14 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: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
• To know the main historical events that have contributed to the scientific development of infectious diseases
• To know the basic concepts and terminology used in the study of infectious diseases
• To comprehend the role played by infectious agents, the host, and the environment as determinants of infectious disease
• To recognize the economic and health significance of infectious diseases
• To learn and apply epidemiological studies in the analysis of infectious diseases.
• To conduct a comprehensive clinical history to gather information about a disease
• To learn how to collect appropriate samples and correctly submit them to the diagnostic center/lab to achieve the diagnosis of a specific infectious disease
• To be able to determine the origin of a disease with a known cause and investigate and control a disease of an initially unknown cause
• To understand the most commonly used laboratory techniques in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, how to utilize them, interpret results and assess their practical usefulness.
• To identify the most significant infectious diseases in different species of domestic animals based on differential diagnoses of epidemiological data, clinical signs, and lesions.
• To develop appropriate treatments, vaccinations, biosecurity, and prophylaxis measures, tailored to the husbandry system, to address an infectious problem, prevent the introduction of external infectious diseases to the farm, or prevent the spread of pathogens already present on the farm and minimize their impact.
• To monitor and evaluate disease control programs
The ultimate objective is to ensure that students well-prepared for practical application of the subject knowledge, emphasizing the practical aspects of the discipline.
Theoretical program:
The program consists of the following sections: Infectious diseases of cattle (12 units), Infectious diseases of small ruminants (7 units) and Infectious diseases of poultry (6 units):
• BLOCK 1: CATTLE
o Unit 1.- Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis.
o Unit 2.- Bovine Viral Diarrhea / Mucosal disease.
o Unit 3.- Bovine paratuberculosis.
o Unit 4.- Bovine mastitis.
o Unit 5.- Bovine respiratory disease: parainfluenza-3 infection and bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Bovine adenovirus. Pasteurellosis.
o Unit 6.- Bovine neonatal diarrhea: rotavirus and coronavirus infections and other enteric viruses. Colibacillosis. Salmonellosis.
o Unit 7.- Anthrax. Blackleg. Other clostridial diseases: tetanus and botulism.
o Unit 8.- Other diseases causing cattle abortion: leptospirosis, chlamydiosis, campylobacteriosis, listeriosis, Q fever, anaplasmosis and micotic abortion.
o Unit 9.- Bovine spongiform encephalitis. Other nervous disorders: thromboembolic meningoencephalitis, listeriosis, rabies and Aujeszky´s disease.
o Unit 10.-. Diseases included in official eradication and surveillance programs in ruminants: bovine tuberculosis. Bovine brucellosis. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. Bovine enzootic leukosis.
o Unit 11.- Skin diseases: Mycosis. Bovine keratoconjunctivitis. Other skin conditions: smallpox, lumpy skin disease, dermatophytosis, papillomatosis, actinobacillosis, actinomycosis, pyobacillosis, necrobacillosis and nocardiosis.
o Unit 12.- Exotic diseases of interest: malignant catarrhal fever. Rinderpest. Foot and mouth disease and other vesicular diseases.
• BLOCK 2: SMALL RUMINANTS
o Unit 13.- Respiratory complex of sheep: Parainfluenza, adenovirus and pasteurellosis infections. Contagious pleuropneumonia of small ruminants.
o Unit 14.- Maedi-Visna. Caprine arthritis-encephalitis. Ovine pulmonary adenomatosis. Scrapie.
o Unit 15.- Enterotoxemias.
o Unit 16.- Contagious agalactia syndrome in small ruminants.
o Unit 17.- Processes that cause reproductive problems in small ruminants. Q fever, enzootic sheep abortion and others.
o Unit 18.-Bluetongue.
o Unit 19.- Caseous lymphadenitis.
o Unit 20.- Necrobacillosis and other diseases of interest.
• BLOCK 3: POULTRY
o Unit 21.- Respiratory diseases (I): Newcastle disease. Avian influenza.
o Unit 22.- Respiratory diseases (II): Chronic respiratory disease. Infectious bronchitis. Laryngotracheitis. Pasteurellosis. Psittacosis-Ornithosis.
o Unit 23.- Avian salmonellosis.
o Unit 24.- Colibacillosis.
o Unit 25.- Tumor diseases of viral origin: Marek's disease. Avian leukosis.
o Unit 26.- Immunosuppressive diseases: Gumboro disease.
The study of the main infectious diseases will be distributed by animal species and each disease will be developed according to the following scheme:
• Definition and synonyms.
• Historical aspects, if relevant.
• Economic and health importance.
• Etiology: characteristics of the infectious agent influencing pathogenesis or immune mechanisms, along with epidemiology, diagnosis and prophylaxis.
• Epidemiology: geographical distribution, agent-host-environment interactions, transmission, infection maintenance, morbidity and lethality.
• Pathogenesis.
• Clinical signs and lesions: crucial for clinical diagnosis combined with epidemiology.
• Diagnosis: diagnosis based on epidemiological data, clinical signs, and lesions; study of laboratory diagnosis methods
• Treatment: possible treatments and effectiveness.
• Prophylaxis: vaccination, medical prophylaxis, biosecurity, and management measures.
Approximate duration: 44 hours
• 28 h in block 1: approximately 2 hours per unit + 6 hours of board practices (1 hour / practice)
• 9 h in block 2: approximately 1 hour per unit + 2 hours of board practices (1 hour / practice)
• 7 h in block 3: approximately 1 hour per unit
Board practices:
There will be 8 hours of board practices throughout the course on various practical aspects related to health in each studied species:
1.- Taking and sending samples to the laboratory (EINFII PE1).
2.- Serology: practical applications (EINFII PE2).
3.- Rational use of antibiotics and interpretation of antibiograms (EINFII PE3).
4.- Livestock Health Defense Groups (ADSG) (EINFII PE4).
5.- Functions of the farm veterinarian (EINFII PE5).
6.- Functions of the veterinarian managing milk quality improvement programs (EINFII PE6).
7.- Design and evaluation of health programs (2 h, EINFII PE7 and EINFII PE8).
Clinical practices:
There will be 15 hours of practices divided into 4 sessions:
• Practice 1: control programs in small ruminants (EINFII C1, 4 h).
• Practice 2: control of mastitis in cattle (EINFII C2, 4 h).
• Practice 3: control programs in cattle (EINFII C3, 4 h).
• Practice 4: poultry farming (EINFII C4, 3 h).
Practices will be carried out on Campus Terra farm (EINFII C2 and EINFII C3) and on external farms (EINFII C1), whenever feasible. Practice 4 (EINFII C4) will simulate a visit to a poultry farm using the faculty’s virtual reality facilities. The clinical practices will focus on various practical aspects of infectious diseases of the animal species covered in the course:
• Risk factor assessment
• Assessment of the health status of a farm / group
• Collection of biological samples of various kinds
• Treatment and control of infectious diseases
NOTE: it is essential to remember that no photos or videos should be taken during clinical practices without the explicit authorization of the facility owner or the supervising professor.
Basic:
• SCOTT P.R.; PENNY C.D.; MACRAE A.I. 2011. Cattle medicine. Manson Publishing Ltd. London, UK.
• PEEK S.F.; DIVERS T.J. 2018. Rebhun´s diseases of dairy cattle, 3rd edition. Elsevier. St. Louis, USA.
• CONSTABLE P.D.; HINCHCLIFF K.W.; DONE S.H.; GRÜNBERG W. 2017. Veterinary Medicine: a textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats, 11th edition. Elsevier. St. Louis, USA.
• GARCÍA-BOCANEGRA I.; ZAFRA R. 2019. Enfermedades infectocontagiosas en rumiantes, 1a edición. Elsevier España. Barcelona, España.
• PUGH D.G.; BAIRD A.N. 2012. Sheep and goat medicine, 2nd edition. Elsevier Saunders. Maryland Heights, USA.
• AITKEN I.D. 2007. Diseases of sheep, 4th edition. Blackwell Publishing. Oxford, UK.
• SMITH M.C.; SHERMAN D.M. 2009. Goat medicine, 2nd edition. Wiley-Blackwell. Ames, USA.
• BOULIANNE M. 2012. Avian disease manual, 7th edition. American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. Florida, USA.
• TULLY JR T.N.; DORRESTEIN G.M.; JONES A.K. 2009. Handbook of avian medicine, 2nd edition. Elsevier Saunders. Maryland Heights, USA.
• DINEV I. 2011. Enfermedades de las aves, atlas a color 2ª edición. CEVA. Perú.
Complementary:
• 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:
o https://www.merckvetmanual.com
o https://www.oie.int/es/que-hacemos/normas/codigos-y-manuales/
o http://www.vetresponsable.es/vet-responsable/espanol/inicio_55_1_ap.html
o http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/
o http://www.neurovideos.vet.cornell.edu/index.aspx
Generic competences:
• Capacity to analyse and synthesis (GVUSC-02)
• Capacity to apply knowledge to practice (GVUSC-05)
• Capacity to work autonomously or in a multidisciplinary team (GVUSC-06)
Discipline-specific competences:
• Understanding the basic principles and application of immunity (CEDVUSC-05)
• Ability to diagnose the most common infectious diseases of animals, individuals and collectives, and implement preventive programs, particularly focusing on zoonotic diseases and notifiable diseases (CEDVUSC-08)
Professional-specific competences:
• Ability to write clear and concise clinical records (anamnesis) and conduct clinical examinations of animals (DIVUSC-01)
• Selection of appropriate samples and their correct submission with corresponding reports (DIVUSC-02)
• Utilization of analytical techniques in diagnostic laboratories for specific infectious disease (DIVUSC-04)
• Conducting epidemiological studies and developing prevention, control and eradication programs for infectious diseases in animals, with a specific emphasis on zoonotic diseases and notifiable diseases (DIVUSC-05)
Academic-specific competences:
• Analyzing, synthesizing, problem-solving, and decision-making in the veterinary field (CEAUSC-01)
• Effective communication of acquired information in oral and/or written form (CEAUSC-03)
• Application of scientific methods in veterinary practice, particularly evidence-based medicine (CEAUSC-05)
Transversal competences:
• Ability to reason argue effectively (CTVUSC-01)
• Capacity to create and deliver organized and coherent texts (CTVUSC-03)
• Proficiency in using information and communication technologies (CITVUSC-05)
• Problem-solving skills with a holistic approach to knowledge application (CTVUSC-07)
As this subject is aimed at future veterinary professionals, we intend to comply with the following basic methodological conditions:
a) To maintain a balance between the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical skills; we must not forget that in this discipline a series of necessary skills for the professional practice of veterinary medicine must be acquired.
b) To encourage the constant search for new information. This is not a static discipline and is in continuous evolution, so it is necessary for the student to learn to search for new information and analyzing it from a critical position.
The training activities with the presence of the teacher will be:
• Lectures (large group; 36 h): lesson given by the professor that can have different formats (theory, problems and / or general examples, general guidelines of the subject). The professor can use audiovisual and computer media for support, but, in general, students do not need to handle them in class.
• Board practices (large group; 8 h): theoretical-practical classes in which students will receive training on practical aspects related to the exercise of the profession, discussing these aspects collectively. Efforts will be made to invite recognized professionals to share their experience and viewpoints with the students.
• Clinical practices (small / very small groups; 15 h): hands-on training practices in which the student carries out clinical procedures and techniques on live animals or their carcasses, during in-person or virtual visits to farms or establishments where students actively engage in work.
• Tutorials: tutorials scheduled by the professor (small / very small or individual groups; 1 h). Additionally, the student can request individual tutorials at established times for supervising work, clarifying doubts about theory, exercises, programs, readings or other proposed tasks, as well as for debate or commenting on works.
Within this structure, we can describe several parts of this course:
A.- Theoretical work: the professor will present the topics included in the program of the subject and the student must acquire the basic knowledge of the discipline. Students must combine attendance at these theoretical classes with reading the recommended texts to expand their knowledge. Lectures, board practices, and tutorials are included in this group. In all cases, students will be provided with scripts of lectures as well as various documents used during board practices.
B.- Work in groups of 4-5 students: two practical cases of different species that students will have to solve in independent groups and present in writing. The students will have to investigate to establish an action protocol and answer questions based on the knowledge acquired through theoretical classes, recommended bibliography, and available information search tools. Each practical case will be solved in each half of the semester to split the workload. These practical cases must be delivered resolved through the virtual classroom within the established deadlines (first practical case: by the first half of the semester; second practical case: by the last day of the teaching period)
C.- Practical Work: Throughout the course, students must participate in the clinical practices of the subject to develop the necessary skills for future professional practice. Since the development of some of the practical sessions (EINFII C3) will involve the performance of invasive procedures on live animals, it is essential that students demonstrate prior training in these procedures using animal models. For this purpose, students will have access to an animal model in the clinical skills classroom, where they can autonomously practice the procedures that will be carried out later in the practical sessions through the module "Clinical Procedures in Horse and Cow Heads." Students will be provided with instructions to carry out the required procedures, and it will be verified that they have completed the task before the development of the practices that require it. Students who do not demonstrate the completion of this training will not be able to perform the corresponding clinical practice. The knowledge acquired by the student in each practice will be evaluated through questionnaires, rubrics or similar tools. It must be noted that clinical practices are mandatory for all students to pass the subject, along with obtaining at least 4 points out of 10 points in the clinical practice evaluation.
Supports to the course:
Students will have face-to-face support throughout the course, being able to consult different teachers of the subject during the indicated tutoring hours. They will also have virtual support to make inquiries via email. In the "Infectious Diseases II" 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.
TThe qualification of each student will be determined through continuous evaluation and the completion of a final exam.
The continuous evaluation will reflect the grades obtained both in the practical cases to be solved in groups and in the different clinical practices (questionnaires, evaluation by rubric, etc.).
Hence, the final evaluation of the student will consider the following aspects:
1. Mandatory completion of clinical practices.
2. Practical Cases: Students will work in groups of 4-5 students completing a total of two practical cases throughout the course, to be submitted by the established deadlines. The resolution of these cases and the demonstrated subject knowledge will be evaluated.
3. Evaluation of clinical practices through questionnaires, rubrics or other evaluation methods. It will be mandatory to obtain a minimum of 4 points out of 10 in the evaluation of the clinical practices to pass the subject.
4. Written Exam: This activity will evaluate the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired by the student. A final exam will be conducted on the dates outlined in the Academic Program of the Veterinary Faculty. It will be necessary to obtain at least 5 points out of 10 to pass the subject.
The final exam will consist of:
• 40-50 multiple-choice test-type questions with only one correct answer out of four options. Every two incorrect answers will deduct one correct answer. This part will account for 50% of the exam grade.
• 4 short questions to be answered schematically. Short questions may have subparts in each question to respond briefly
• Each question will be scored from 0 to 10 points, and the average score of the four questions will contribute to 50 % of the exam grade.
The exams of all the course’s calls will follow a similar format, and the final grade will be calculated consistently. The content covered in board practices may be included in the written exam.
In cases of fraudulent performance or plagiarism in exercises or tests, the provisions of the Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións will be applied.
After the publication of the provisional grades for each exam, students will have the opportunity to review their work and address any doubts, suggestions or claims they may have. The date and venue for the reviews will be announced alongside the exam results.
Final Qualification of the Subject:
The final grade for the course will be as follows:
• Continuous evaluation: 30 % of the final qualification composed of:
o Practical cases: 20 % (10 % each)
o Evaluation of clinical practices: 10%. It will be necessary to obtain at least 4 out of 10 points in this section to pass the subject
• Written exam: 70% of the final grade. To pass the course, the final exam must be passed with a qualification equal to or greater than 50% of its value (5/10 points).
The content covered in the lectures and board practices will be evaluated with the written exam and the practical cases. The content presented in the clinical practices will be evaluated through their respective evaluation activities.
In this subject, no total exemption is granted. Based on Instruction No. 1/2017 from the General Secretariat, those students who are granted partial exemption will not be required to attend the theoretical classes and board practices, but the obligation to attend clinical practices remains. Regardless of whether partial exemption is granted or not, the assessment system will be the same for all students, as in the activities where partial exemption is granted, there are no in-person assessment activities.
Recommendations for the Evaluation:
Participation in practical cases is highly recommended as they represent 20 % of the final grade. It is crucial to compete the clinical practices to pass the subject.
Students are advised to carefully read the statements of each question and all possible answers. In the short questions, students should adhere to the requirements asked and respond clearly and schematically.
Recommendations for Recovery:
In the event a student does not pass the subject in a given examination:
• The grades of the theoretical exams will not be retained, requiring the student to review the theoretical content of the subject.
• Marks obtained in practical cases and clinical practices will be saved under the following conditions:
o The grades for practical cases and clinical practices can be retained for up to two years after the year in which the student received the grade.
o Students may achieve a minimum of 4 points out of 10 in the overall evaluation of the clinical practices and attend all sessions to retain the grade.
o Students with previous grades for practical cases and/or clinical practices can request to repeat and reevaluate any of the practical cases or the whole clinical practices (individual repetition of clinical practices is not allowed). Should a student wish to repeat an activity, they must notify the subject coordinator at the beginning of the course. Repeating an activity will result in the loss of the previous grade for that activity.
Presential work in the classroom:
• Master classes 36 h
• Clinical practices 15 h
• Board practices 8 h
• Tutoring 1 h
Total presential work hours (10x No. of ECTS) 60 h
Student’s Individual work:
• Individual study 48 h
• Elaboration of practice reports 1 h
• Elaboration of assignments 20 h
• Bibliographic review, library use, etc. 4 h
• Attendance at talks or other recommended activities 2h
• Resolution of practical cases/problems 12 h
• Exams 3 h
Total student’s individual work (15x No. of ECTS ) 90 h
Total working hours: 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 of sheep and goats, 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: José Manuel Díaz Cao
Gonzalo Fernández Rodríguez
- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- gonzalo.fernandez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Alberto Prieto Lago
- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- alberto.prieto [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
José Manuel Diaz Cao
Coordinador/a- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- josemanueldiaz.cao [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) PhD Assistant Professor
Gonzalo López Lorenzo
- Department
- Animal Pathology
- Area
- Animal Health
- Phone
- 982822127
- Gonzalo.lopezlorenzo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Posdoutoral USC_Campus Terra
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
| Monday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS07 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS10 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS02 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS05 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS08 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS11 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS03 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS06 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS09 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS01 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12:00-13:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS04 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 15:00-16:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| Wednesday | |||
| 17:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 18:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| Friday | |||
| 18:00-19:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 01.17.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 01.17.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |
| 01.17.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 06.26.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 06.26.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 4 |