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

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

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.

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: 2,3
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: 3,4

Study hours

ACTIVE LEARNING HOURS: 114hr
IN-SITU LEARNING ACTIVITIES: Formative case based learning sessions = 2hr
Case based learning sessions (3 session/ case)= 3X4=12hr
Assessment introduction sessions 3X 2hr= 6hr
Drop-in sessions 3X1hr= 3hr
Topics 8X2hr=16hr
ASYNCHRONOUS DIRECTED LEARNING:
8x 6 hours engagement with asynchronous content (including consumption, wider reading and note taking)
4x 6 hours preparation for case-based learning
INDEPENDENT STUDY & ASSESSMENT: 186hr
60 hours completing the case-based report
30 hours completing the infographic
2x 2 hours completing the exams
92 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment