2025
Infectious Diseases I
Name: Infectious Diseases I
Code: MVT15210I
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Veterinary Medicine
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
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
Theoretical classes or seminars (120 minutes) addressing viral/prion diseases by one of the lecturers or, exceptionally, an invited recognized specialist. Practical classes: diagnostic tests for the diseases covered, current eradication or surveillance plans, vaccination schedules and discussion of clinical cases.
Attendance of a minimum of 75% of the practical classes is mandatory.
Attendance of a minimum of 75% of the practical classes is mandatory.
Assessment
Assessment by a final written exam (on paper or through the Moodle platform) or oral exam is MANDATORY. In case of written exam, a supplementary oral exam is mandatory for all students with a final grade between 9 and 10.9. The work presented in practical classes is mandatory in the first year of the course; students are exempt from this requirement in the following years. The final grade of the CU is subject of a bonus resulting from the evaluation of the work presented in practical classes as follows: "sufficient" (+0 points to the final grade), "Good" (+ 0.25 points to the final grade) or "Very good" (+ 0.5 points to the final grade).
Certificações
