82678 - Problem Oriented Approach: Good Use of Antimicrobials in Animal Farming

Learning outcomes

This Course will allow the student to obtain knowledge on the main principles of the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, and more specifically in food producing animals as well as in aquaculture. Basic information on antimicrobial products (i.e. SPC), on kinetics and on their proper administration (i.e. dosage, intervals of administration, duration of the therapeutic protocol) will be discussed. Moreover, the Course will underline some important general aspects that need to be taken into consideration when administrating antimicrobials in food-source animals, especially in order to ensure the safety of the food production chain and to be aware of the antimicrobial resistance issue. Concerning antimicrobial resistance the prudent use of antimicrobials will be discussed, insisting on the importance of taking samples and performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and finally realizing the impact that antimicrobial resistance and antibiotics may have on the environment. The students will acquire skills in practical laboratory, learning how to evaluate the acquisition and dissemination between animals-environment-food of animal origin of antibiotic resistance character in pathogenic microorganisms of zoonotic interest. In more detail, methods for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the phenotypic (MIC and antibiogram) and genotypic (Real-Time PCR, Whole Genome Sequencing) traits of antibiotic resistance will be applied, as well as methods to study their possible diffusion. The use of a “self-directed learning” approach, in terms of teamwork and personal investigation, represents the main teaching innovation of this Course. The student will also learn how to discuss specific topics properly using the tools that are available to gather relevant information, building awareness and decision-making autonomy.

Course contents

This Course will allow the student to obtain knowledge on the main principles of the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, and more specifically in food producing animals as well as in aquaculture. Basic information on antimicrobial products (i.e. SPC), on kinetics and on their proper administration (i.e. dosage, intervals of administration, duration of the therapeutic protocol) and the Critically important antibiotics (CIAs) will be discussed.

Moreover, the Course will underline some important general aspects that need to be taken into consideration when administrating antimicrobials in food-source animals, especially in order to ensure the safety of the food production chain and to be aware of the antimicrobial resistance issue. Concerning antimicrobial resistance the One Health approach and the prudent use of antimicrobials will be discussed, insisting on the importance of taking samples and performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and finally realizing the impact that antimicrobial resistance and antibiotics may have on the environment.

The students will acquire skills in practical laboratory, learning how to evaluate the acquisition and dissemination between animals-environment-food of animal origin of antibiotic resistance character in pathogenic microorganisms of zoonotic interest. In more detail, methods for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the phenotypic (MIC and antibiogram) and genotypic (Real-Time PCR, Whole Genome Sequencing) traits of antibiotic resistance will be applied, as well as methods to study their possible diffusion.

The use of a “self-directed learning” approach, in terms of teamwork and personal investigation, represents the main teaching innovation of this Course. The student will also learn how to discuss specific topics properly using the tools that are available to gather relevant information, building awareness and decision-making autonomy.

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching material

Considering the organization of the course, the student will have to research for the material under the teacher’s indications (i.e. scientific papers and reviews, textbooks, Guidelines, Rules, and Regulations); these will be needed for the work during the lessons.

Specific textbooks will be recommended.

Syllabus

A syllabus will be built and will be available through the University website : https://corsi.unibo.it/magistrale/ProduzioniAnimali/syllabi/82678-approccio-orientato-al-problema.pdf

Teaching methods

Teacher

The Course will be held by Professor Anna Zaghini (“Bases for the correct use of antimicrobials”) and by Professor Frederique Pasquali (“Genomics and traditional techniques to study antibiotic resistance”).

The teaching may involve postgraduate research staff of the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences. During the Course, several lectures might be organized with the collaboration of external teachers being experts on specific subjects.

Teaching methods and lesson format

The course consists of 48 hours of frontal lessons/lectures and is divided into two modules: “Bases for the correct use of antimicrobials” (4 CFU, 32 h) and “Genomics and traditional techniques to study antibiotic resistance” (2 CFU, 16 h). The first module provides mainly lectures, but classroom lessons are also intended to encourage close interaction between the teachers and the students. This is aimed to prompt the students to appreciate the links between the treated matters, stimulate a reasoned approach and an independent work of small groups of students ending with a final presentation (power point) of the student’s work.

In consideration of the type of activity and the teaching methods adopted in the present module, the attendance of this learning activity requires the preventive participation of all students in the Training Modules 1 and 2 (in e-learning mode) on safety in the study places.

The second module consists mainly in practical laboratory work, learning how to evaluate the acquisition and dissemination between animals-environment-food of animal origin of antibiotic resistance character in pathogenic microorganisms of zoonotic interest. In more detail, methods for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the phenotypic (MIC and antibiogram) and genotypic (Real-Time PCR, Whole Genome Sequencing) traits of antibiotic resistance will be applied, as well as methods to study their possible diffusion. Methods to check the qualitative presence of antimicrobials in food of animal origin will also be considered.

In consideration of the type of activity and the teaching methods adopted in the present modules, the attendance of this learning activity requires the preventive participation of all students in the Training Modules 1 and 2 (in e-learning mode) on safety in the study places, and the participation in Module 3 of the specific training on safety and health in the study places. Information on dates and methods of attendance of Module 3 can be consulted in the specific section of the Course website.

Assessment methods

Student assessment methods

The final examination of the course will be conducted in a different way for the attending students and the non-attending ones. In the first case the evaluation of the students is carried out on the basis of: 1) self-learning group work carried out, with the presence of the teachers, during the course on an assigned topic; 2) practical activity conducted in the laboratory and 3) oral presentation of the learning group work using a power point. The mastery of the topic, the expository clarity, the ability to synthesise and, through questions asked by the teachers during the final discussion, the mastery of the topics dealt with during the theoretical lessons or the activities in the laboratory are taken into consideration.

A very thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course, together with high skills of critical analysis, connection and a sure command of specific terminology will be evaluated, in addition to the above ratings, with the maximum score. A sufficient preparation and capacity for analysis, expressed in a language which is barely formally correct, will determine the sufficiency.

For non-attending students the examination is oral and aims to verify the acquisition of the knowledge provided by the course program. The examination consists of at least two questions for each module paying attention to favor correlations between the topics covered in the two different modules so as to verify also the student's reasoning ability. A very thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course, together with high skills of critical analysis, connection and a sure command of specific terminology will be evaluated with the maximum score. A sufficient preparation and capacity for analysis, expressed in a language which is barely formally correct, will determine the sufficiency.

For both attending students and non-attending ones, the final vote is agreed by the teachers at the end of the examination and is expressed in thirtieths.

How to enrol in examinations and the examination calendar

Students may sign up for the examination through the AlmaEsami online system. For further enrolment instructions, please go to: ( https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm ).

Examination dates appear in special windows for students in line with the course schedule, while are listed throughout the year for students behind in the course schedule.

• When the number of candidates enrolled for an examination is too high, the examining committee will ensure the examination of the at the first possible opportunity.

• Students may not enrol in more than one examination date at a time.

• Students failing the oral examination are entitled to re-take the test after a minimum period of three weeks.

Teaching tools

Video player to show power point slides.

Laboratories to learn methods for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the phenotypic (MIC and antibiogram) and genotypic (Real-Time PCR, Whole Genome Sequencing) traits of antibiotic resistance, as well as methods to study their possible diffusion. Laboratories to learn methods to check the qualitative presence of antimicrobials in food of animal origin.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Zaghini

See the website of Frederique Pasquali