B8441 - General Pathology

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student: knows the basic principles and mechanisms of injury, adaptation, repair, vascular disorders and neoplasia; is able to recognise and describe the macroscopic and microscopic features of basic lesions.

Course contents

This course is part of the Integrated Course “General Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Fundamentals of Special Pathology”.

The integrated course "General pathology, clinical pathology, and fundamentals of special pathology" aims to provide the student with adequate knowledge of the fundamental principles of pathology, the macroscopic and microscopic features of lesions, and the sampling and diagnostic techniques in clinical pathology and necropsy that are relevant to veterinary medicine

The Integrated Course “General Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Fundamentals of Special Pathology” contributes to the achievement of the following ESEVT Day One Competences:

1.10 Understand and apply principles of One Health to ensure veterinary Good Clinical Practice, and research-based and evidence-based veterinary medicine.

1.22 Collect, preserve and transport samples, select appropriate diagnostic tests, interpret and understand the limitations of the test results. The student correctly collects a sample for cytology and is able to differentiate main cytological patterns

1.25 Recognise signs of possible notifiable, reportable and zoonotic diseases as well as abuse of animals and take appropriate action, including notifying the relevant authorities.

1.29 Recommend and evaluate protocols for biosecurity, and apply these principles correctly

1.34 Perform necropsy in all common animal species, including sampling, dispatching and reporting.

1.35 Perform ante-mortem inspection of food-producing animals including paying attention to welfare aspects, systematic gross post-mortem examination, record observations, sample tissues, store and transport them.

SPECIFIC PREREQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE:

To better understand the topics covered in this course, students are advised to have already acquired knowledge in the following areas: cellular physiology and metabolism, veterinary cytology and histology, veterinary anatomy

COURSE CONTENT:

Cellular pathology (9 hours)

Cell injury, death and adaptations (3 hours)

Accumulations, calcification, pigments (2 hours)

Cellular aging (2 hours)

Genetic basis of disease (2 hours)

Circulatory disturbances (9 hours)

Abnormal fluid distribution (edema) (2 hour)

Disorders of hemostasis: hemorrhage and thrombosis (3 hours)

Alterations in blood flow and perfusion (2 hours)

Shock (2 hours)

Neoplasia (14 hours)

General nomenclature (1 hour)

Tumor characteristics (1 hour)

Neoplastic transformation (2 hours)

Tumor microenvironment and immunity (2 hours)

Tumor dissemination and systemic clinical effects on the animal (2 hours)

Heritable alterations in cancer (2 hours)

Mechanisms of carcinogenesis (2 hours)

Cancer in animals and cyto/histomorphology of selected neoplasms (2 hours)

Practical sessions (8 hours)

Readings/Bibliography

Readings/Bibliography

Required readings:

J. F. ZACHARY, Pathologic basis of veterinary disease, 7° ed., Elsevier:

• Chapter 1: Mechanisms and morphology of cellular injury, adaptation, and death
• Chapter 2: Vascular disorders and thrombosis
• Chapter 6: Neoplasia and Tumor Biology

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en).

Teaching methods

The course includes both theoretical lectures and practical/laboratory sessions.

Theoretical lectures will be delivered by power point presentation. Interactive poll tools will be used during the theoretical lectures.

Practical sessions aimed at the recognition and diagnosis of basic lesions will be delivered with the aid of digitalized histological slides and digital images of macroscopic lesions.

Considering the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, attendance for this course requires the successful completion of Modules 1 and 2 via e-learning

Assessment methods

The assessment for the Integrated Course unit “General Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Fundamentals of Special Pathology” consists of a written exam including 30 questions covering all topics from all the component courses of the IC, except B8446 - Necropsy Technique and Methods in Pathology for which a practical exam will be performed, aimed at assessing the acquisition of expected knowledge.

Twenty out of 30 questions are multiple choice questions and 10 are short answer questions. One question includes one or two macroscopic or microscopic images similar to those discussed during the theoretical lectures and the practical sessions.

Each correct answer grants 1 point, while blank or incorrect answers grant 0 points.

No supplementary materials or electronic devices (e.g., calculators, tablets, smartwatches, computers) may be used during the exam, except for those explicitly allowed by the instructor.

The results of the written exam will be published within 5 working days on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en) by the designated course contact. A minimum score of 60% is needed to pass the exam

In the practical part, the students perform a complete necropsy or part of a necropsy. They are able to use the appropriate instruments, the personal protective equipment, how to examine single organs and systems, how to collect samples and how to finalize a diagnosis and be able to write a post-mortem report.

At the end of the practical exam the student will be evaluated as follows:

• Failure to demonstrate core procedural competencies, inability to interpret findings, incorrect terminology (FAIL)
• Basic procedural skills, appropriate interpretation of lesions to reach a logic conclusion, minor inconsistencies, appropriate specific terminology (3 points)
• Confident manual skills, correct and independent interpretation of lesions, critical analysis of findings, appropriate specific terminology (4 points)
• Proficient across core manual skills, correct and independent interpretation of lesions, critical analysis of findings, problem solving ability, appropriate terminology (5 points)
• Proficient across all manual skills, correct interpretation of lesions, critical analysis of findings, independent thought, problem solving ability, appropriate terminology and confident communication skills (6 points)

The exam is considered passed only if both parts are successfully completed. The final grade is expressed out of 30. A minimum final grade of 18/30 is required. Written and practical exams scores will be weighted proportionally to the CFU of IC components.

Negative results are not graded numerically but recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic transcript on AlmaEsami, and do not affect the student’s academic record.

Grades for individual parts and the final grade will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en ) within 5 working days of the date of the exam.

Students may reject the final grade ... times (NB: according to University Regulations, at least once), by informing the course examiner via email within 5 working days.

The designated course contact for this course is Giancarlo Avallone

With regard to the learning assessment, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations, class quizzes, discussion of images of macroscopic lesions from the veterinary teaching portal and other sources.

In case of difficulty understanding the course content, the instructor is available for clarification meetings, which must be scheduled via email.

Office hours

See the website of Giancarlo Avallone

Office hours

See the website of Giancarlo Avallone