208-215 Animal Health and Epidemiology

This subject involves the use of animals. Students should be aware that this is an essential part of the subject and exemption from this component is not possible.

202-103 Biology for Land and Food Resources or 650-141 Biology of Cells and Organisms

The objectives of this subject are to provide students with an understanding of the nature of health and health disorders of animals in individuals and populations. Content includes:

• evolutionary development and adaptations to disease; parasitic relationships;

• causes of disease: toxic, neoplastic, infectious, traumatic, developmental and degenerative; the biological basis of parasitic disease: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, helminths, ectoparasites;

• disease processes: inflammation and healing;

• diagnostic procedures; therapeutic techniques; and

• epidemiological concepts; analysis of incidence and prevalence; disease in polulations; sensitivity and specificity; infectious disease modelling; biosecurity.

On completion of this subject students should:

• understand the role of a non-veterinary graduate in prevention, detection and management of health disorders in animals;

• understand the biological basis of disease causality;

• understand the processes of disease including inflammation and healing;

• be familiar with diagnostic procedures;

• be familiar with therapeutic techniques;

• be familiar with epidemiological concepts and terminology; and

• understand the application of bio-security strategies.

One 3-hour written essay or short-answer style examination (40% of total marks), three practical assignments equivalent to 2000 words (each worth 20% of total marks).