95979 - Stress and Dysmetabolic Associated Pathologies

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students: 1. can explain the relationships between stress, inflammation and immune response; 2. know the main hepatic and gastrointestinal pathologies that can interfere with metabolic efficiency; 3. can correlate humoral parameters for estimating metabolic efficiency with physiological or pathological processes.

Course contents

DEFINITION AND EXAMPLES OF SIGNIFICANT STRESSORS IN FARM ANIMALS.

Environmental Factors. Heat, Cold, Humidity, Noise, Lighting

Management Factors. Handling, Transportation, Housing Conditions, Procedures

Nutritional Factors. Dietary Imbalances, Lack of essential nutrients, Overfeeding, sudden changes in diet, Water Availability

Social Factors. Social Hierarchies, Isolation

Health Status. Illnesses, injuries, parasites

Reproductive Status. Pregnancy, Parturition, Lactation

 

MECHANISMS OF INITIATION OF METABOLIC DISORDERS BY STRESS FACTORS

Activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis. Cortisol Release; Energy Redistribution

Impact on Glucose Metabolism. Insulin Resistance, Hyperglycemia

Altered Protein Metabolism. Muscle Catabolism, Reduced Growth

Lipid Metabolism Dysregulation. Increased Lipolysis, Ketosis

Immune System Suppression. Increased Susceptibility to Infections, Chronic Inflammation:

Reproductive and Lactation Performance. Reduced fertility, Irregular estrous cycles, Higher rates of pregnancy loss, Reduced milk production

Nutritional Imbalances. Feed Intake Reduction, Digestive Issues

 

EXAMPLES OF METABOLIC DISORDERS INDUCED BY STRESS

Bovines. Ketosis, Fatty Liver Syndrome, Hypocalcemia, Displaced Abomasum, Laminitis, Rumen Acidosis, Pregnancy Toxemia

Small Ruminants. Pregnancy Toxemia – Ketosis, Hypocalcemia - Milk Fever, Enterotoxemia - Pulpy Kidney, Acidosis, Laminitis, White Muscle Disease, Hypomagnesemia - Grass Tetany

Swine. Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS), Exudative Epidermitis (Greasy Pig Disease), Metabolic Myopathy - Pale Soft Exudative Meat (PSE), Ketosis, Fatty Liver Syndrome, Acidosis, Heat Stress, Hypertension, Gastric Ulcers, Post-Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS); Hypoglycemia in Piglets, Iron Deficiency Anemia

Poultry. Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome (FLHS), Ascites (Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome), Osteoporosis (Cage Layer Fatigue), Hypoglycemia (Sudden Death Syndrome), Gout, Rickets, Sudden Death Syndrome (Flip-Over Disease), Deep Pectoral Myopathy (Green Muscle Disease), White Striping, Wooden Breast Syndrome

Farmed fishes. Acidosis, Hypoxia, Nitrite Poisoning, Gill Disease, Metabolic Stress Syndrome, Swim Bladder Disorders, Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia, Muscle Degeneration (Myopathy), Stress-Induced Immunosuppression.

 

CASE STUDIES AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS.

Analysis of real-life case studies. Student presentations on specific topics

 

Readings/Bibliography

Relevant articles from scientific journals

Teaching methods

Lectures and student presentations on specific topics and case study analysis, with interactive discussions and group work

The course setting is aimed at promoting student's active learning by analysing and elaborating clinical cases and specific topics, according to the self-directed learning model (working in groups and personal processing). Students will be provided with reference materials (articles from scientific journals, chapters or extracts from books) with which they will have to prepare presentations on the most common stress-induced diseases in farmed animals, also selected based on their personal interests. All students must attend all presentations.

Assessment methods

• Participation and attendance (10%)
• Student presentation (50%): clarity and efficacy of exposition, summary and completeness of the topic discussed, discussion
• Final written examination (40%): closed-ended questions on topics presented in lectures and student presentation

Teaching tools

• PowerPoint slides of lectures
• PowerPoint slides of student presentations
• Handout provided by the teacher
• PDFs of relevant articles on scientific journals
• Pertinent videos and selected websites

Students will also be invited to perform a bibliographic research on the assigned topic, on-line or in the library, to obtain further material for in-depth study.

Office hours

See the website of Giuliano Bettini