Entry requirements

At least 180 credits (i.e. three years of full-time studies), in biology, (bio-)medicine, biotechnology, pharmacy, pharmaceutical bioscience, (pharmaceutical)chemistry, medical science, agriculture, animal science, veterinary medicine or international education giving knowledge in cell biology, genetics (bio)chemistry and molecular biology.

English proficiency, normally attested by means of an internationally recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS.

Learning outcomes

The course aims to give in-depth knowledge of infectious diseases and infectious agents affecting domestic animals, sport animals and companion animals. Further the course aims to give a comprehensive knowledge of disease mechanisms on individual- and cellular level with the focus on interactions between the infectious agents and the immune system of the animal host.

After the course the students should be able:

* to describe structure, function, lifecycle and pathogenic capacity of the most important parasitic protozoans, helminths and arthropods in domestic animals and man.

* to describe general principles for prophylaxis and treatment of parasitic infections

* to describe pathogenic capacity of microfungi

* to describe mechanisms regulating the interaction between the immune defence of the animal and microorganisms of importance for veterinary medicine and describe how these can modulate and evade the immune defence.

* to evaluate principles and problems in veterinary diagnostics and surveillance of infectious agents and their way of transmission between animals

* to analyse and interpret what specific problems and solutions are involved in the vaccination against diseases of veterinary importance and to describe various vaccine technologies used

* to describe structure, function, lifecycle and pathogenic capacity of microorganism causing infectious diseases of great veterinary importance

* independently compile and critically analyse information from relevant literature regarding a given subject and present the results orally as well as written in English.

Content

The course is divided into three sections: Parasitology, 5 HEC, Mycology, 3 HEC, and Veterinary infection biology, 7 HEC

Lectures in Parasitology include occurrence and classification of various protozoans, helminths and arthropods. Their lifecycle, structure, biology and their way to transmit and how different parasites interact with the host animal immune system will be discussed.

Lectures and exercises will consider basic biology of microfungi, pathogenic fungi mycotoxins and preventive measures.

The lectures in veterinary infection biology will comprise interactions between the immune defence of the animal and microorganisms of importance for veterinary medicine and how these modulate and evade the immune defence and their adaption to the host animal. Further lectures will deal with the importance of the immune system in maintaining a good animal health and important vaccine prophylaxis to animal diseases. Microorganisms causing important diseases in Veterinary medicine and food safety will be described.

Practical exercises on methods used to study, diagnose and/or detect various infectious agents will be performed.

Instruction

Scheduled activities

- Lectures approx. 60 h

- Laboratory work approx. 45h, compulsory

- Exercises approx. 90h

- Supervision and accounting of project work approx. 45h, compulsory

- Examination and evaluation approx. 20h

Individual studies, not scheduled

- Individual tasks approx. 140h

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Total: approx. 400h

Assessment

Oral and written examinations of different parts and presentations of tasks.