Learning objectives
The course aims at giving the student the opportunity to know and understand the essential aspects of the differential diagnosis of syndromes affecting pigs herds, cattle herds and small animals (dogs and cats) so that the student can apply the ability acquired by the knowledge and understanding in diagnosing clinical medical problems of a population or an individual animal.
The student, at the end of the course, thanks to the previously acquired competences about physical examination, internal medicine, infectious diseases, laboratory investigation and clinical pathology, should demonstrate the ability to know and understand a) the differential diagnosis in population medicine of swine and cattle and in individual clinic of small animals; b) herd health management with particular emphasis on control measures and prevention; c) subclinical conditions potentially interfering with the health status of the animals. Thus, the student by the application of the acquired competences will be able to a) prepare preventive measures for a given pathological condition; b) detect correlated syndromes; c) propose guidelines to manage the diseased animal or group of animals in a population medicine perspective.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The first part of the course is devoted to the population medicine of swine and cattle with particular emphasis on physical examination, general diagnostic approach and herd health management. The second block of lessons discusses about differential diagnosis of major syndromes affecting swine and cattle. The third part aims at presenting and discussing differential diagnosis in pets, mainly dog and cat.
Full programme
Physical examination of swine and bovine herds. Bovine health management: metabolic disorders; nutritional diseases, rumen acidosis and alcalosis; nervous system diseases.; Mastitis and mammary gland disorders. Swine health management: reproductive disorders (infectious and non-infectious origin). Parvovirosis. Leptospirosis. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). Neonatal metabolic disorders. Neonatal and post-weaning Enteric disorders . Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases (PCVD e PMWS). Porcine respiratory diseases complex. Enzootic pneumonia. Atrophic rhinitis. Swine flu. PRRS. Aujeszky’s disease. Swine dysentery. Neurologic disorders. Postpartum dysgalactia syndrome of sow.
Clinic of pets. Health management of puppies. Health management of old animals. Main infectious diseases of the dog and cat (FIV, FeLV, FIP, parvovirus, coronavirus). Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of: seizures vs syncope, pruritus and alopecia, congestive heart failure, dyspnoea and cough, vomiting and diarrhea, polyuria/polydipsia, icterus, paresis and ataxia, abdominal distension, weakness and exercise intolerance, polyphagia, anemia and hemorrhage, fever.
Bibliography
No textbooks are needed as the course is based on practice only
Teaching methods
By problem solving exercises the student will have the opportunity to challenge his/her acquired ability and competences. Seminars will also be provided in order to increase the competences on specific relevant topics.
Assessment methods and criteria
The examination, aimed at assessing the achievement of the goals in term of knowledge and competences, is an oral exam based on three different questions strictly connected to the contents of the course. The questions will evaluate the achievement of the competences in a practical perspective.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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