16621 - Microbiology and Veterinary Epidemiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, the student acquires knowledge on bacterial and viral pathogenic microorganisms, their structural and metabolic organization, and diagnostic techniques. Furthermore the student knows the main methods of description and epidemiological characterization of animal infectious diseases and is able to apply the main tools of veterinary epidemiology and interpret the results of epidemiological studies.

Course contents

Microbiology and Immunology

Microorganisms and diseases: Koch's postulates. Study of microbial structure: microscopy . Procaryotic cell structure. Microbial nutrition and growth : common nutrient requirements, culture media, isolation of pure cultures, the growth curve, the influence of environmental factors on growth, measurement of microbial growth. Control of microorganisms by physical and chemical agents. The pattern of microbial death. Microorganism and host: basic concept of infectious disease, mechanisms of bacterial virulence, bacterial toxins. Taxonomy and classification of bacteria, phenotypic and genotypic methods. Bacterial genetics: mutations and recombination. Antibiotic resistance, minimum inhibitory concentration, disc diffusion method. Bacterial taxa of veterinary concern. General features of viruses. Relationship virus-host. Viral replication and genetics. Taxonomy and classification of virus. Laboratory diagnosis of viral disease. Introduction to immunology. General properties of immune responses. Antibodies: structure and functions. Antigens. Antibody binding of antigens. Antigen receptors and accessory molecules of T lymphocytes. The major histocompatibility complex. Antigen processing and presentation to T lymphocytes. Activation of B and T cells. Immunologic tolerance. Effector mechanisms of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Serological tests. Immunity at body surfaces. Passive immunity: natural and artificial. Vaccines. Adjuvants. Classical and molecular methods in clinical microbiology.

Epidemiology

The purpose of this course is to provide a basic understanding of veterinary epidemiology and how it relates to other veterinary disciplines. This course will provide a context for the general use of epidemiological methods in the practice of veterinary medicine.

This course introduces basic concepts and approaches to population problems in veterinary medicine. Methods appropriate to investigation of disease outbreaks, surveillance of animal disease, and the production and design of epidemiological studies of the determinants of disease are presented. This course covers concepts, principles and methods of applied epidemiology, including the following topics: interpretation of diagnostic test results, sampling, measuring disease frequency, clinical epidemiology, descriptive epidemiology, causal reasoning and design, interpretation and critical appraisal of surveys, observational studies, field trials and critical appraisal.

2) Expected learning outcomes: knowledge and skills

The aims of this course is to enable participants to

• understand the importance of Epidemiology and Statistics
• apply an Epidemiological approach and basic Epidemiological and Statistical methods in appropriate situations
• understand the results that these basic methods produce.

At the end of the course participants will understand and be able to discuss and answer questions about the following:

• Why an understanding of epidemiology is an important component of clinical veterinary medicine, animal health and public health
• Why you need to have epidemiological measures (including Prevalence and Incidence rates) what they are and how they help to describe diseases
• How to use epidemiological methods to investigate the causes of disease and the effectiveness of treatments
• The different types of epidemiological study and how to use them to answer questions on the cause of disease
• The way that the characteristics of diagnostic tests determine their usefulness for clinical diagnosis and for the control of diseases within populations; how to describe diagnostic tests using sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and their relationship with incidence, prevalence and accuracy
• Some consequences of a diagnostic test giving the wrong answer
• The need to take samples

Readings/Bibliography

• Poli G., Cocilovo A., Dall'Ara P., Martino P.A., Ponti W.,  Microbiologia e immunologia veterinaria, II Edizione, UTET, Torino, 2005.
• Tizard I., Veterinary immunology: an introduction, VII Ed. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2004.
• Bottarelli E., Ostanello F. Epidemiologia veterinaria. Teoria ed esempi di medicina.Il Sole 24 Ore Edagricole, 2011.
• Thrusfield M. Veterinary epidemiology. Third edition. Blackwell Science Ltd. Oxford UK, 2005.
• Bottarelli E. Quaderno di epidemiologia veterinaria.
• Poerpoint presentations used by the teachers during the course and uploaded in AMS Campus (http://campus.unibo.it)

Teaching methods

The theoretical lectures take place in a teaching room properly supplied with multimedia equipment, with the backing of power-point slides. The practical lectures, carried out in a properly equipped teaching lab, provide for a constant presence of the teachers and its co-operators together with the students, with introductive and explanatory discussions. Every practical training activity is carried out singly by the students and submitted to discussion with the teachers.

Assessment methods

The final examination does not only verify that students have attained the necessary knowledge and skills (both practical and intellectual) required, but also provides feedback to students and supports effective learning.

The assessment methods are:

• Structured oral examinations consists in several questions aimed at verifying the knowledge and the aptitude to link the different topics dealt with during the course
• Problem-solving questions
• Essay questions, testing understanding, analysis, synthesis and critical thinking

Teaching tools

PC video-projector, web connected PC, teaching lab,epidemiological software.

Office hours

See the website of Renato Giulio Zanoni

See the website of Fabio Ostanello