B8439 - Fundamentals of Special Pathology

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student: knows the aetiology, pathogenesis and progression of diseases in body systems and individual organs and is able to identify; is able to describe and interpret lesions at macroscopic and microscopic levels.

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: general pathology, veterinary anatomy and histology.

COURSE CONTENT:

• Disorders of the alimentary system and the Peritoneum, Omentum, Mesentery and Peritoneal cavity (6 hours)
• Pathology of the Hepatobiliary System and Exocrine Pancreas (4 hours)
• Pathology of the respiratory system, Mediastium and Pleurae (6 hours)
• Disorders of cardiovascular diseases and lymphatic system  (3 hours)
• Disorders of the urinary system (3 hours)
  
• Disorders of nervous and muscular tissue (3 hours)
• Diseases of bone, tendons and ligaments (2 hours)
• Disorders of the integumentary system (2 hours)
• Diseases of the male and female reproductive systems (2 hours)
• Disorders of ears and eyes (1 hour)

For each system th following topics are covered:

• the portals of entry, pathways of spread, responses to injury, and defense mechanisms
• Pathogenesis of diseases, macroscopical and microscopical lesions
  

Specie-specific diseases and lesions will be covered in the specific courses. 

Readings/Bibliography

Required readings:

J. F. ZACHARY, Pathologic basis of veterinary disease, 7° ed., Elsevier: Chapters 7-21 (excluding species-specific diseases in each chapter). 

 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.

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 “General Pathology, Clinical Pathology, and Fundamentals of Special Pathology” consists of a written examination and a practical examination.

The written examination consists of 30 questions covering all topics included in the component courses of the Integrated Course, with the exception of B8446 – Necropsy Technique and Methods in Pathology, which is assessed through a practical examination designed to evaluate the achievement of the expected learning outcomes.

The written examination includes:

• 20 multiple-choice questions;
• 10 short-answer questions.

One question includes one or two macroscopic or microscopic images similar to those presented during lectures and practical sessions.

Each correct answer is worth 1 point. Incorrect or unanswered questions receive 0 points.

No supplementary materials or electronic devices (e.g., calculators, tablets, smartwatches, or computers) may be used during the examination unless explicitly authorized by the instructor.

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

The practical examination (B8446 – Necropsy Technique and Methods in Pathology) requires students to perform a complete necropsy or part of a necropsy. Students are expected to:

• use the appropriate instruments and personal protective equipment (PPE);
• examine individual organs and organ systems;
• collect appropriate samples;
• formulate a diagnosis;
• prepare a post-mortem report.

At the end of the practical examination, students will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Failure to demonstrate core procedural competencies, inability to interpret pathological findings, and/or incorrect use of technical terminology. FAIL
• Basic procedural skills; appropriate interpretation of lesions leading to a logical conclusion; minor inconsistencies; appropriate use of technical terminology: 3 points
• Confident manual skills; correct and independent interpretation of lesions; critical analysis of findings; appropriate use of technical terminology: 4 points
• Proficiency in all core manual skills; correct and independent interpretation of lesions; critical analysis of findings; problem-solving ability; appropriate use of technical terminology: 5 points
• Excellent proficiency in all manual skills; correct interpretation of lesions; critical analysis of findings; independent judgment; problem-solving ability; appropriate use of technical terminology; and confident communication skills (6 points)

The examination is considered passed only if both the written and practical examinations are successfully completed.

The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale, with a minimum passing grade of 18/30. The written and practical examination scores are weighted according to the number of ECTS credits (CFU) assigned to the respective components of the Integrated Course.

Unsuccessful examinations are not assigned a numerical grade but are recorded in AlmaEsami as "Withdrawn" or "Failed", in accordance with University regulations, and do not affect the student's academic record.

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

Students may reject the final grade ... time(s) (according to University Regulations, at least once) by notifying the course coordinator via email within 5 working days of grade publication.

The course coordinator is Giancarlo Avallone.

Students must register for examinations through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Examination sessions are scheduled during the periods established in the Academic Calendar. Additional examination sessions are available for students who have exceeded the standard duration of the degree programme.

Students with specific learning disorders (SLD) and/or temporary or permanent disabilities are encouraged to contact the University's dedicated support service (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as early as possible to request appropriate accommodations. Requests for examination accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor at least 15 days before the examination date. The instructor will evaluate the requested accommodations in accordance with the learning outcomes of the course.

 

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 Barbara Bacci