Veterinary Microbiology & Virology

Subject VETS20004 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 2 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 25 hours of lectures and workshops and 21 hours of practical classes.
Total Time Commitment:

73.5 hours (minimum)
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
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

Coordinator

Assoc Prof James Gilkerson

Contact

jrgilk@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Topics include: general microbiology; immunity to microbial pathogens, virology and practical exercises in immunodiagnostics and veterinary virology.
Objectives:

At the end of the sequence Veterinary Microbiology & Virology and Veterinary Bacteriology & Mycology, students completing these subjects should:

  • possess the essential information on the important characteristics of bacteria, fungi and viruses and the way they exert their pathogenic effects and produce clinical signs of disease;
  • understand the distribution of microbes in nature and the manner by which those of veterinary importance are spread;
  • be familiar with the methods of disinfection and sterilisation and their use in practice;
  • understand the principles of anti-microbial therapy;
  • understand the need for rational judgments in the use of antimicrobial therapy;
  • understand the immune response infection and possible abnormalities of the responses;
  • understand the principles and use of vaccines in the control of infectious diseases;
  • be familiar with the methods of diagnosis of infectious diseases;
  • understand the principles of non-therapeutic control measures; understand approaches to the diagnosis of infectious disease (including the isolation and identification of pathogens and their detection using immunoassays).
Assessment:
  • Two 1-hour (short answer and multiple choice) tests (15% total) and a 1-hour practical quiz (15%) during the semester, as indicated in the teaching timetable available at the commencement of the semester (approximately weeks 6, 10 and 11 respectively).
  • One 2-hour written exam (70%) at the end of semester.

Students are required to pass the subject on aggregate mark.
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

At the end of the sequence Veterinary Microbiology and Virology and Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology students completing these subjects should have:

  • the skills required to be efficient managers of information;

  • the skills to apply technology to the analysis of biological problems; and

  • developed skills in report writing.

Download PDF version.