2024
Infectious Diseases I
Name: Infectious Diseases I
Code: MVT14075I
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Veterinary Medicine
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Presentation
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Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
To acquire knowledge on viral and prionic diseases with particular emphasis on zoonoses, diseases with economic impact or that must be mandatorily reported.
Skills to be developed include:
• Knowledge on viruses characteristics that determine their pathogenicity, virulence, transmission, latency and genetic variability.
• Knowledge on the epidemiology of the diseases (distribution, prevalence, transmission and reservoirs)
• To be able to associate symptoms and pathological lesions with particular etiologic agent (s).
• To know the laboratory diagnostic methods available, their sensitivity and specificity
• To choose an appropriate etiological and supportive pharmacological therapy
• To learn how to apply medical prophylaxis measures (different types of vaccines and vaccine schedules) and prophylactic measures.
• To search for relevant information in different animal health organizations worldwide, at European and national level, to consult legislation and official ongoing eradication
Skills to be developed include:
• Knowledge on viruses characteristics that determine their pathogenicity, virulence, transmission, latency and genetic variability.
• Knowledge on the epidemiology of the diseases (distribution, prevalence, transmission and reservoirs)
• To be able to associate symptoms and pathological lesions with particular etiologic agent (s).
• To know the laboratory diagnostic methods available, their sensitivity and specificity
• To choose an appropriate etiological and supportive pharmacological therapy
• To learn how to apply medical prophylaxis measures (different types of vaccines and vaccine schedules) and prophylactic measures.
• To search for relevant information in different animal health organizations worldwide, at European and national level, to consult legislation and official ongoing eradication
Contents
Main families of animal viruses and associated diseases:
Retrovirus, Orthomixovirus, Paramixovirus, Herpesvirus, Picornavirus, Parvovirus, Circovirus, Flavivirus, Asfavirus, Reovirus, Coronavirus, Adenovirus, Calicivirus, Poxvirus and Rhabdovirus. Prionic diseases: BSE, scrapie, CWD
For each disease the following themes will be addressed:
• Aetiology, including the characteristics of the virus, its taxonomy, tropism and resistance in the environment;
• Epidemiology including entry, transmission and contagiousness of infected materials; worldwide and national prevalence
• Pathogenesis in the different affected animal species;
• Macroscopic and histopathological lesions attributable to the infectious agent;
• Symptoms induced directly or indirectly by the infectious agent;
• Laboratory tests of aetiological and complementary diagnosis;
• Therapeutics and prophylactic measures; Legislation whenever applicable.
Retrovirus, Orthomixovirus, Paramixovirus, Herpesvirus, Picornavirus, Parvovirus, Circovirus, Flavivirus, Asfavirus, Reovirus, Coronavirus, Adenovirus, Calicivirus, Poxvirus and Rhabdovirus. Prionic diseases: BSE, scrapie, CWD
For each disease the following themes will be addressed:
• Aetiology, including the characteristics of the virus, its taxonomy, tropism and resistance in the environment;
• Epidemiology including entry, transmission and contagiousness of infected materials; worldwide and national prevalence
• Pathogenesis in the different affected animal species;
• Macroscopic and histopathological lesions attributable to the infectious agent;
• Symptoms induced directly or indirectly by the infectious agent;
• Laboratory tests of aetiological and complementary diagnosis;
• Therapeutics and prophylactic measures; Legislation whenever applicable.
Teaching Methods
Seminar classes (150 minutes) in which viral/prionic diseases are addressed by the lecturer or by invited speaker. Practical classes (120 minutes): one of the following activities discussion on diagnostic tests for the diseases addressed, ongoing eradication or monitoring plans, vaccination plans or case study presented by a group of students Attendance of a minimum of 75% of practical classes is mandatory
Students can choose between continuous evaluation or final exam.
Continuous assessment - 2 tests - minimum classification equal to or greater than 10 values in each test. The final grade will be the average of both classifications
Final exam regime - written or oral exam with minimum rating equal to or higher than 10 values
Presentation of assignments in class: they will be classified as sufficient (+0 points added to the final grade), Good (+ 0.25 points added to the final grade) or Very good (+ 0.5 points added to the final grade).
Students can choose between continuous evaluation or final exam.
Continuous assessment - 2 tests - minimum classification equal to or greater than 10 values in each test. The final grade will be the average of both classifications
Final exam regime - written or oral exam with minimum rating equal to or higher than 10 values
Presentation of assignments in class: they will be classified as sufficient (+0 points added to the final grade), Good (+ 0.25 points added to the final grade) or Very good (+ 0.5 points added to the final grade).
Teaching Staff (2023/2024 )
