Overview

The course includes an overview of relevant veterinary microbiology and the interaction between microbes and their hosts. The course will build upon knowledge acquired in VCM 507, and relevant physiology pertaining to disease prevalence, prevention, and pathology will be discussed. The host immune system will be highlighted, and important bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites will be studied. Current and emerging pathogens, and the relevance of potential zoonotic spillovers into human populations will be discussion points.

Students will be guided through the process of applying foundational scientific principles in the solving of common clinical cases using a problem-based learning format. Students will be asked to work in teams to explore and explain learning issues needed to solve each week’s clinical case. The learning process will be supported with the provision of a series of short, online micro lectures. Students will also be encouraged to develop adaptive learning and information literacy competencies in developing cooperative learning resources, crowd coursing visual representations and executive summaries of the learning topics.

Each week the student learning will be scaffolded and assessed using low stakes quizzes, and group participation. One final exam will be assessed for a final grade in the class.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Identify host defenses and summarize similarities and differences between body systems.
Identify and explain tissue tropism and disease patterns of different veterinary pathogens.
Predict which body systems will be targeted by pathogens, comparing primary and secondary pathological insults.
Use a problem-based approach to identify, monitor, and respond to health problems for a particular body system in a specific animal context.
Discuss and collaborate with others in solving animal health and disease problems
Formulate scientific questions that inform problem-solving
Identify personal and team deficits in knowledge and understanding
actively search and use micro lectures and other appropriate evidence-based resources to acquire information and knowledge that can help promote effective problem solving
formulate newly acquired knowledge in a way that can cultivate and optimize team-based problem solving effectiveness

Course Topics

Module 1: Host Defenses
Host defenses: physical, chemical, immunological
Structure and function of the immune system
Module 2: Introduction to Pathogens
Virus basics
Bacteria basics
Protozoa and fungi
Module 3: Respiratory Pathogens
Tissues of the respiratory tract
Respiratory pathology/transmission
Module 4: Enteric Pathogens
Tissues of the alimentary tract
Enteric pathology/transmission
Module 5: Other Pathogens
Other pathogens, transmission, and pathology
Immunology of affected systems
Physiology of non-affected system
Module 6: Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases
Emerging pathogens and recent outbreaks
Module 7: Pathogens in Populations, and Their Control
Pathogen behavior
Infection prevention, control, and biosecurity
Life with and without pathogens

Recommended Prerequisites

VCM 507: Veterinary Form and Function