Infections Population and Public Health

Subject VETS70005 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 31.25
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 336
Total Time Commitment: 450 hours
Prerequisites: Passes in all subjects at DVM1
Corequisites: Students must enrol in the following subjects:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Not offered in 2011
62.50
Recommended Background Knowledge: This course assumes prior knowledge in one or more discipline of science. All students will be expected to be familiar with the principles of scientific thinking, hypothesis development, experimental design, and data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

Prospective students are advised to familiarise themselves with the Faculty's Academic Requirements Statement http://www.vet.unimelb.edu.au/docs/CoreParticipationReqs.pdf

Contact

Email: etudor@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview: This subject introduces students to the study of infectious agents as causes of disease in animals. It includes as appropriate, taxonomic and life cycle considerations of arthropods, nematodes, trematodes and cestodes, protozoa, fungi, bacteria and viruses; the host-parasite interaction and the pathogenesis of disease, disease transmission and epidemiology, methods of diagnosis of infectious disease as well as vaccination and treatment. This understanding is then applied to the public health and food safety context where the focus is on promotion and protection of human health; and to the herd or flock level, where the multifactorial nature of disease is reviewed, and techniques for measurement and prediction of disease prevalence and population health are introduced.
Objectives:

At the completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • understand the important biological characteristics of infectious agents that cause disease in animals
  • explain how infectious agents exert their pathogenic effects and produce clinical signs of disease
  • describe the distribution of infectious agents in nature and the methods of their spread amongst animals
  • describe the principles of therapeutic and non therapeutic control measures used to treat, limit or prevent infectious diseases
  • apply an understanding of distribution of infectious agents and disease transmission to the context of public health and food safety
  • appreciate the multifactorial nature of disease
  • explain how disease is measured and predicted in populations of animals
  • describe how clinical trials are designed
  • explain how the spread of disease is controlled
  • isolate and identify a range of infectious agents
  • recognise lesions associated with specific infectious diseases.
Assessment:
  • One 2 hour written examination at end of semester one (15%)
  • One 2 hour written examination at end of semester two (15%)
    Student is required to sit both written exams and to pass them on aggregate mark.
  • One 2 hour practical test at end of semester one (15%)
  • One 2 hour practical test at end of semester two (15%)
    Student is required to sit both practical exams and to pass them on aggregate mark.
  • Six one hour within semester tests (25%) Student is required to sit all 6 tests and to pass them on aggregate mark.
  • Computer based assessment of case study exercises (5%) to be completed during semester two
  • 1000 word written assignment (Veterinary Public Health) (10%) submitted at the end of semester two
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • have a broad knowledge of science across a range of fields, with an in-depth understanding in one scientific discipline
  • understand the scientific method, and the history and evolution of scientific concepts
  • be intellectually curious and apply a rigorous, critical and logical approach to enquiry
  • be able to communicate their ideas effectively in both written and verbal formats to both specialists and non-specialists
  • reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
  • be efficient managers of information
  • apply technology to the analysis of biological problems

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