52432 - Infectious Diseases, Prophylaxis and Police Employed in Veterinary Health and Hygiene Surveillance

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student - knows the concepts of aetiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, symptomatology, diagnosis and prophylaxis of infectious diseases transmissible to humans (zoonoses) and highly contagious diseases (former OIE List A); - knows the Veterinary Police Regulations with the update of the laws in force; - is able to make judgements on infectious diseases; - is able to communicate information on infectious diseases to specialists and non-specialists; - has acquired operational skills in the prophylaxis of infectious diseases subject to prophylaxis.

Course contents

At the end of the course, students are able to interpret the role of international and national institutions in safeguarding animal and human welfare and health. They are also able to define the sequence and hierarchy of actions aimed at implementing health plans in ordinary or emergency situations.
With regard to epidemic diseases, students learn to evaluate the most appropriate preventive measures to avoid the emergence of outbreaks on a farm or in an area. Concerning endemic diseases (Blue Tongue, Q fever, ruminant pestivirus diseases) students will be able to identify and discuss the most appropriate control and prophylactic measures to limit their economic impact.
Students understand the organisation and role of national and international institutions dealing with animal health: International Governance, National Governance, National Emergency Plan.
Students will be able to identify factors influencing health and welfare and the socio-political and economic dimensions of communicable animal and human diseases.
They will know the role and interactions of the organisations that, in different capacities, deal with animal and human health: WOAH, WHO and FAO.
he latter includes aspects related to the role of the veterinary profession in reducing hunger and promoting sustainable production.
Students will address the 'One Health' and holistic approach to animal and environmental health considered necessary to achieve many of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nations. The four-party agreement WHO, WOAH, FAO, UNEP will be presented and discussed.
The student understands the importance of multistakeholder partnerships and shared responsibilities to promote health and sustainable development.
Students will learn about examples of global partnerships implemented by international organisations to reduce the economic and social impact of communicable diseases.
They will understand the importance of global cooperation in science to disseminate and share health data and to foster capacity building in the field of prevention and control of communicable diseases in developing countries.
Specifically for each disease, the etiopathogenesis, symptomatology and diagnosis will be addressed. They will understand the epidemiology and discuss the principles of biosecurity, national and European legislation and define, and give reasons for, the actions to be taken in the event of an outbreak of the following diseases: Foot and mouth disease, Vesicular disease, Classical swine fever, African swine fever.
Students will know the aetiopathogenesis, symptomatology and diagnosis; they will understand the epidemiology and discuss the principles of biosecurity and will be familiar with national and European legislation and define, and give reasons for, the actions to be taken for the following emerging diseasesRift Valley Fever, Lumpy skin disease and sheep and goat pox,Small ruminant plague.Students will learn about the aetiopathogenesis, symptomatology and diagnosis of the following diseases transmissible to humans (zoonoses): Rabies, Zoonotic Poxvirus Infections, Brucellosis,Tuberculosis, Anthrax.The practical exercises are aimed at solving a concrete health risk problem resulting from trade in animals and their products by working out the import risk analysis according to the method described by WOAH and quantitatively estimating the risk.The course is divided into two modules: module 1 lecturer in charge Prof. Alessandra Scagliarini and module 2 lecturer in charge Prof. Marco De Nardi and is part of the integrated course TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH whose lecturer is Prof. Elena Catelli.

Readings/Bibliography

Materials provided by lecturers and available on VIRTUALE

Teaching methods

Individual study, in presence  lectures with discussion, 'soft' use of the inverted classroom methodology (Flipped classroom) viewing of films, individual and group exercises. Two individual assignments (not compulsory) will be assigned, based on case studies and videos to be uploaded on the Virtual https://virtuale.unibo.it platform for assessment. Each individual work will receive 1 point if assessed positively. A final group work with class discussion (maximum 3 points) is foreseen as an exercise. If carried out and successfully assessed, the voluntary assignments described above may secure up to 5 points, which may be added to the grade for the written assignment if this is at least 18/30 and is obtained by current students.

Assessment methods

The assessment is expressed by a mark in thirtieths for the examinations. The test is passed with a mark of at least 18/30. In the case of a maximum mark (30/30), honours may be awarded.
The examination consists of a written examination with 6 open questions lasting 2 hours. The examination is intended to assess the critical and methodological skills acquired by the student. Particularly assessed will be the student's ability to move within the topics addressed in the course.Each answer may be awarded a mark ranging from 0 to 5 points based on the following criteria:
1) The student's attainment of an organic vision of the themes addressed in the lecture combined with their critical use, the demonstration of the possession of a mastery of expression and specific language will be assessed with marks of excellence.
2) An unarticulated ability to synthesise and analyse and/or language that is correct but not always appropriate will lead to fair marks.
3) Formative deficiencies and/or inappropriate language - albeit in the context of minimal knowledge of the examination material - will lead to marks that do not exceed sufficiency.

4) Formative deficiencies, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the topics covered during the course cannot but be evaluated negatively.

Only in the event of an emergency or proven necessity may the examination be held orally in online mode the assessment criteria are the same as those described for the written examination

 

Teaching tools

Power point presentations, scientific publications videos, multimedia materials uploaded on the VIRTUALE platform will be made available to students

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Scagliarini

See the website of Marco De Nardi