00767 - Avian Diseases

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be familiar with the main diseases affecting poultry, as well as the biosecurity measures and vaccination strategies used in poultry farming. They will be able to perform differential diagnoses of the main diseases, manage poultry farms in accordance with biosecurity principles, and develop specific vaccination programme

Course contents

The teaching unit AVIAN PATHOLOGY is part of the INTEGRATED COURSE IN TRASMISSIBLE DISEASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

The aim of the Integrated Course is to provide students with:

· Knowledge of etiopathogenesis, epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious diseases, including diseases transmissible to humans (zoonoses), of mammals, poultry and wild and exotic animals;

· Knowledge of the One Health approach to public health and of competences and actions that must be put in place by the vet in order to safeguard public health;

· The ability to carry out clinical and post-mortem investigations on poultry and wild and exotic animals.

The Integrated Course TRASMISSIBLE DISEASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH contributes to the achievement of the following ESEVT Day One Competences, which are available on the webpage http://corsi.unibo.it/magistralecu/MedicinaVeterinaria/syllabi-e-day-one-competences-degli-insegnamenti

The lecturer responsible for recording the final grade for the Integrated Course is Professor Elena Catelli.

The specific contents of the Avian Pathology course cover cross-cutting topics such as biosecurity and vaccination programmes in poultry farming, as well as specific diseases affecting poultry species. In particular: 1) Viral diseases: Newcastle disease, avian influenza, avian metapneumovirus infections, avian infectious bronchitis, infectious laryngotracheitis, avian pox, Marek’s disease and other neoplastic diseases of viral aetiology, infectious bursal disease, Reovirus and Adenovirus infections, avian encephalomyelitis, chicken infectious anaemia, and an overview of other viral diseases; 2) Bacterial diseases: mycoplasmosis, avian salmonellosis, colibacillosis and avian tuberculosis, together with an overview of other bacterial diseases; 3) Parasitic diseases: avian coccidiosis and an overview of histomoniasis, trichomoniasis, helminth diseases and arthropod infestations.

Each disease will be discussed with reference to its aetiological, epidemiological, diagnostic—particularly pathological—and preventive and control aspects. Illustrative images and videos from clinical cases or experimental studies will be used.

The practical and specifically hands-on component of the course is carried out during MODULE 1 of the clinical training course in “Avian diseases and diseases of wildlife and exotic animals”, which is part of the Integrated Course in Communicable Diseases and Public Health.

The teaching unit syllabus is available on the webpage  http://corsi.unibo.it/magistralecu/MedicinaVeterinaria/syllabi-e-day-one-competences-degli-insegnamenti

 

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials are available on the Virtuale platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/ ).

Students are advised to consult the following texts:

• Asdrubali G e Fioretti A. - Manuale di Patologia Aviare- Le Point Veterinaire Italie - Milano, 2009.
• Diseases of Poultry, 14th Edition- David E. Swayne (Editor-in-Chief), M. Boulianne (Associate Editor), C.M. Longue (Associate Editor). R. McDougald (Associate Editor), L. K. Nolan (Associate Editor), V. L. Nair (Associate Editor) D. L. Suarez (Associate Editor) Wiley-Blackwell, 2020.
• Diseases of Poultry, 13th Edition- David E. Swayne (Editor-in-Chief), J. R. Glisson (Associate Editor), L. R. McDougald (Associate Editor), L. K. Nolan (Associate Editor), D. L. Suarez (Associate Editor), V. L. Nair (Associate Editor) Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
• Diseases of Poultry, 12th Edition - Saif Y.M. (Editor-in-Chief), Fadly A.M., Glisson J. R. , McDougald L.R., Nolan L.K., Swyne D.E. (Associate Editors), Wiley-Blackwell, June 2008.
• Pattison M., McMullin P., Bradbury J., Alexander D., Poultry Diseases, 6th Edition.,Saunders Ltd, 2007.
• Calnek B.W, Barnes H.J., Beard C.W., Mc Dougald L.R. and Saif Y.M. Patologia Aviare, 10a edizione. Ed. italiana a cura di Quaglio G., Gallazzi D., Cerruti Sola S., Tacconi G., Camarda A. Capua I., Franciosi C. Piccin Nuova Libraria S.p.A., Padova, 2001.
• Randall C.J. A Cololour Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of Domestic fowls and Turkeys. Mosby, 1990.

For further information on the clinical, anatomical and histopathological aspects of the diseases covered, students are advised to consult the following links:

• https://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/diseases-of-poultry
• https://www.poultrymed.com/Atlas-of-Pathology 

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures and seminars.
Images and illustrative videos from clinical cases or experimental studies will be used during the teaching activities.

The practical and hands-on component of the course is carried out during MODULE 1 of the “Avian diseases and diseases of wildlife and exotic animals" which is part of the integrated course in "Transmissible Diseases and Public Health".

 

Assessment methods

Assessment for the Avian Pathology course consists of an oral examination.

Duration: approximately 20 minutes – students will be asked 2 or 3 questions.

Examinations are graded on a scale of 30. A minimum grade of 18/30 is required to pass. In the event of the highest grade (30/30), honours may be awarded (Laude)

Criteria for assessing the acquisition of knowledge/skills.

When assessing the oral examination, the lecturer uses the following grading scale:

• Knowledge of a very limited number of topics covered during the course and analytical skills demonstrated only with the lecturer’s assistance; generally correct use of language → 18–22;
• Knowledge of a limited number of topics covered during thecourse and ability to analyse independently only purely practical matters; correct use of language → 23–26;
• Knowledge of a broad range of topics covered during the course, ability to make independent choices based on critical analysis, and command of subject-specific terminology → 27–29;
• Substantially comprehensive knowledge of the topics covered during the course, ability to make independent choices involving critical analysis and connections between topics, full command of subject-specific terminology, and ability to construct arguments and engage in self-reflection → 30–30 with honours.

The result of the oral examination is communicated at the end of the interview. The examination is considered passed with a minimum grade of 18/30.

The examination results will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/) within 5 working days of the examination date.

A negative assessment does not result in the award of a grade, but only in an outcome (“withdrawn” or “failed”) recorded in the electronic examination record completed through AlmaEsami; it therefore does not affect the student’s academic record.

Students may register for examination sessions through AlmaEsami (http://almaesami.unibo.it/). Examination sessions are scheduled within the periods indicated in the academic calendar. Additional examination sessions are reserved for students who are behind schedule with their studies.

Students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the relevant University office well in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti ). The office will propose any necessary accommodations to the students concerned. These must be submitted to the lecturer for approval at least 15 days in advance. The lecturer will assess their appropriateness, also in relation to the course learning outcomes.

RECORDING OF THE FINAL GRADE FOR THE INTEGRATED COURSE IN TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The lecturer responsible for recording the final grade for the Integrated Course in “Transmissible Diseases and Public Health” is Professor Elena Catelli.

Specific sessions for recording the final grade for the integrated course will be published on AlmaEsami (http://almaesami.unibo.it/).

The integrated course is considered passed when all the required assessments have been successfully completed. The final grade is the weighted average of the grades obtained in the different parts of the examination, expressed on a scale of 30. A minimum final grade of 18/30 is required.

Students may reject the grade by notifying the lecturer responsible for recording it by email within 5 working days

 

Teaching tools

Lessons will be held in classrooms equipped with multimedia facilities (a network-connected personal computer and a video projector).

The lecturer will use PowerPoint presentations and videos.

In-class quizzes will also be conducted on the topics covered during the lessons

Office hours

See the website of Elena Catelli