78823 - Infectious Diseases of Animals

Learning outcomes

The student knows the infectious agents and parasites causing diseases which can affect food producing animals and impacting public health, livestock production

Course contents

Introduction: dynamics of infection in human and animal populations mode of transmission and maintenance in the nature of the infection. Determinants of infection. Prevalence and and incidence of infections mortality and lethality. Quantitative methods for the development of epidemiological theories, data collection (sampling) and interpretation of data. Selection criteria for diagnostic tests. Evaluation of diagnostic tests: sensitivity, specificity and predictive values. Epidemiological surveillance: collection, analysis and dissemination of information. Descriptive and analytical epidemiological studies: cross-sectional studies, retrospective and prospective. Risk Analysis: odds ratio, relative risk, attributable risk, etiological fraction. Analysis and risk management role of international organizations (EFSA, FAO, WHO). Viral zoonoses: consequent to the direct contact with animals, vector-borne and food-borne viral diseases Bacterial zoonoses: consequent to the direct contact with animals, vector-borne and food-borne. Parasitic zoonoses, consequent to the direct contact with animals, vector-borne and food-borne.

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended texts

• Thrusfield M. Veterinary Epidemiology, Oxford, United Kingdom, Blackwell Science Ltd, 2007
• Bottarelli E., Ostanello F. Epidemiologia: teoria ed esempi di medicina veterinaria. Edagricole, Milano, 2011 ISBN-978-88-506-5347-8

Other materials

• Materiale didattico online
  • http://www.quadernodiepidemiologa.it [http://http//www.quadernodiepidemiologa.it]

• http://www2.vet.unibo.it/staff/ostanello/Didattica/file%20lucidi/lucidi.htm

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Written examination

Teaching tools

Power point presentations

Office hours

See the website of Fabio Ostanello