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.

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 the fundamental biology, health concerns and pathogenic ability 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 describe mechanisms and strategies of different vaccination technologies and critically evaluate their pros and cons
• to describe what specific problems and solutions are involved in the vaccination against diseases of veterinary importance
• 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 credits, Mycology, 3 credits, and Veterinary infection biology, 7 credits

Lectures in Parasitology include occurrence and classification of various protozoans, helminths and arthropods. Their structure, biology, lifecycles and transmission routes and how different parasites interact with the host’s immune system will be discussed.

Lectures, exercises and literature project 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

Teaching is performed in collaboration with Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Teaching is given in English and consists of lectures, laboratory work, exercises, supervision and accounting of project work. Laboratory work as well as supervision and presentation of project work are compulsory parts of the course

Assessment

Three written exams, one for each module are given. Oral and written presentations of different assignments and participation in compulsory parts. The final grade for the whole course is given as a weighted average grade for all compulsory parts. To pass the requirements of the curriculum, all assigned tasks must be completed.