Keele Badge

LSC-10095 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 29 June 2024

LSC-10095 - Animal Health and Disease
Coordinator: Najmul Haider
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

In this module, you will explore a range of animal diseases, considering key clinical signs and symptoms applied in the diagnosis of animal disease and wider disease outbreaks. You will be introduced to the procedures of disease diagnosis and how differential diagnoses helps in reaching an accurate outcome, in context to treatment and monitoring. You will develop and apply knowledge of animal physiology to an understanding of the pathophysiology of a range of infectious and non-communicable disease in different animal systems, including commercial livestock and poultry farms, as well as wildlife and companion animals. You will explore the animal-human interface that allows the emergence of pandemic-potential diseases and how different disease control strategies (e.g. vaccination, biosecurity etc.) can be applied in limiting the spreading of disease, as well as how food-borne outbreaks may originate from farmed animals. Collectively the module will introduce core topics in bioveterinary science to support transition to more advanced study in later years of the course. Case-based learning sessions will develop qualities of team-work, leadership and independent study, also fostered through group activities in producing a public-facing infographic and individual structured case report, supporting development of wider communication skills.

Aims
The module aims to provide applied knowledge and skills on healthy and diseased animals with a focus on major infectious, zoonotic, metabolic, and non-communicable diseases of domestic animals (cattle, horses, sheep, and goats), pet animals (dogs and cats), and avian species (commercial poultry, wild birds). The module provides essential background knowledge on infectious and non-communicable diseases of major animal species, their pathogenesis and clinical presentation, and their diagnosis, management, prevention and control, supporting transition to more advanced study in these areas.

Intended Learning Outcomes

distinguish between healthy and sick animals, considering key clinical signs and symptoms including body condition scoring, and ageing (e.g. dentition) of animals, as applied in animal disease diagnosis: 1,2,3
discuss a range of non-communicable diseases of domestic and pet animals affecting different physiological systems (digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and musculoskeletal), including metabolic, neoplastic, degenerative and hereditary diseases: 1,2,3
discuss various infectious diseases of domestic animals and pet animals including their aetiology, clinical presentation, pathology, epidemiology, and prevention and control: 1,2,3
describe important zoonotic diseases of public health importance, including the emergence of infectious diseases at the human-animal-environmental interface and animal origin food-borne disease outbreaks: 2
describe the animal herd management and preventive measures for infectious diseases of domestic and pet animals, commercial poultry and wild birds, including biosecurity and biosafety at an introductory level: 2,3
communicate information relating to animal health and disease clearly and effectively in written and visual formats appropriate to the target audience: 1,3
contribute to case-based learning tutorials, taking responsibility for their own learning and reflect upon that learning: 3

Study hours

Scheduled Activities
2 hr X 12 tutorials, workshops and lectures supporting asynchronous material and assessment guidance
1 hr X 12 CBL
5 hr X 12 engagement with asynchronous material (including consumption, wider reading and note taking)
Independent study
6x4-hours preparation for CBL sessions
2-hours completing online test
30 hours preparation of infographic
60 hours preparation of structured case report
88 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Creative Brief weighted 20%
Infographic (group communication exercise) on an animal disease
Students will prepare an infographic as a group (pairs or group of 3) on a specific animal disease covered in the first part of the module. The infographic should convey key information on initial signs of illness, to advanced stage clinical outcome including treatment and/or limiting spread of the disease to another animals. Tutorial sessions will support content selection and development of the infographic.

2: Online Tasks weighted 40%
Class test (2-hour active working in a 3-hour assessment window)
Online class test covering the core learning materials from the first half of the module (Week 1-6), comprising MCQ/SAQ questions testing core knowledge and understanding. Duration will be 2 hours of expected active working time with an assessment window of 3 hours, held during the semester. Formative tests will also be provided to support preparation. Structured questions on analysis of disease conditions, pathogenesis, diagnoses, transmission, health outcome, and management of the diseases will be included.

3: Case Study weighted 40%
Assignment on selected animal disease of 2000 words
This is a structured case-study assessment on one of the major infectious, zoonotic, or non-communicable diseases of animals. Students will select from one of the case studies discussed in the module and produce a structured report detailing the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, differential diagnosis, management, and prevention of the disease (1500 words) and a short (500 words) reflection on their approach to case-based learning sessions throughout the module.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 29 June 2024