Syllabus
Lectures: Basic concepts on etiology, epidemiology, immunology, diagnosis, prophylaxis and control of infectious diseases especially for those of viral origin or from unconventional agents (DOC 2.5). Throughout the course special reference will be made to the principles and biosecurity measures for the protection of farms as well as individual and personnel (DOC 1.28). In addition, the main rules laid down in national and international legislation and the principles of disease prevention and animal welfare will be analysed (DOC 1.1, 1.3., 2.7, 2.9)
In this perspective, considering the limited number of available ECTS credits, we will take in account only the diseases deemed relevant from the point of view of their socio-economic impact and/or peculiar epidemiological, ecopathological, zoonosic or emerging features (DOC 2.5., 2.6) and that show epidemiological, pathogenic, clinical scenarios differentiated and as representative as possible of the diverse and complex world of viral diseases.
Diseases
•Poxviridae: Sheep and Goat Pox, Lumpy Skin Disease, Contagious Ecthyma
•Herpesviridae: Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, Aujeszky’s Disease
•Asfarviridae: African Swine Fever.
•Paramyxoviridae: Peste des Petits Ruminants
•Rhabdoviridae: Rabies and Rabies-like virus
•Bunyaviridae: Rift Valley Fever
•Orthomyxoviridae: Flu
•Arteriviridae: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome
•Flaviviridae: West Nile Disease, Classical Swine Fever, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, Border Disease.
•Retroviridae: Small Ruminant Lentivirus, Ovine Pulmonary Adenomatosis
•Reoviridae: Bluetongue, African Horse Sickness, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease
•Picornaviridae: Foot and Mouth Disease,Swine Vesicular Disease
•Caliciviridae:Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
•Non-conventional agents: TSE
Practical activities: The practical activities will take place in the field at farms or structures where research and genetic and zootechnical improvement of the scheduled species are carried out. First of all, the methods for carrying out visits on the farm and the biosecurity measures envisaged both for the purposes of individual protection and for the purposes of prophylaxis will be illustrated (DOC 1.1, 1.3, 1.15, 1.24, 1.28, 1.36). The visits will take place in small groups with the co-presence of the teachers of the integrated course, veterinarians employed by the NHS or freelance professionals. During the visits, preceded by the adoption of suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), the specific epidemiological and biosecurity problems of the farms in question will be analyzed, and the students will be able to carry out practical activities of containment, sampling of samples for diagnostic purposes for viral or prion diseases, carry out any immune prophylaxis in the different species.
. The examination of iconographic material and films relating to clinical and epidemiological situations concerning the pathologies of the program may also be offered. Part of the activity will be aimed at deepening some "real" cases to which students will have to propose adequate answers according to the principles of "problem solving" (DOC 1.36, 2.1, 2.9, 2.10, 2.12).
