Pharmacology Applied to Aquatic Species Pharmacology

Code:

MA328

Acronym:

FAEA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Applied Biology

Instance: 2022/2023 - 3T (of 13-02-2023 to 31-03-2023)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Imuno-Physiology and Pharmacology
Course/CS Responsible:	Aquatic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCMA	8	Official Study Plan	3	-	5	49	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

By completing this course students should be able to understand the fundamentals of Pharmacology and to apply this knowledge in the context of aquatic species.

The use of drugs in aquatic animal house facilities for aquaculture, scientific research and for those species’ conservation is very common. In order for this use to be conscientious and not endanger public / environmental health, it is very important to understand how drugs work (pharmacodynamics) and what the body does to those drugs, from the moment they are administered until they are eliminated (pharmacokinetics), following the four fundamental pharmacokinetic steps: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolization and Excretion (ADME).

The particularities of aquatic species will be highlighted so that students understand that:
   a) The dose and toxicity of each drug is species specific;
   b) There are several ways to administer drugs to animals;
   c) Respecting the withdrawal period is essential to ensure public health.

Emphasis will be given to pharmacological groups that are most commonly used in aquatic species, such as anesthetics and analgesics (used in the treatment of ornamental species and research / conservation projects) or drugs used to treat parasitic (antiparasitic), fungal (antifungal) or bacterial infections (antibiotics). The use of these drugs will be discussed considering not only the growing problem of resistance, but also their framing in the concept “One Health”, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).

At the end of this course students will have the opportunity to know the emerging themes in this area and the relevance of aquatic species in the development of new drugs.

Learning outcomes and competences

The contents were designed according to the students’ learning objectives:
a) Understand the fundamentals of Pharmacology:
   - Pharmacodynamics
   - Pharmacokinetics
b) Understand the particularities of aquatic species:
   - The dose and toxicity of each drug in different species
   - Drugs administration to aquatic animals
   - The withdrawal period importance to public health
c) Know the pharmacological groups that are most frequently used in aquatic species:
   - Anesthetics
   - Analgesics
   - Antiparasitics
   - Antifungals
   - Antibiotics
d) Know the emerging themes in this area:
   - New drugs used in aquatic species
   - The importance of aquatic species to the development of new drugs
e) Apply the acquired knowledge to concrete situations:
   - Case studies of anesthesia, analgesia, deworming agents, antifungals and antibiotics
   - Final monographic work

Working method

Presencial

Program

THEORETICAL CLASSES

1) Pharmacodynamics: How do drugs work?
   - Drug-Receptor interaction kinetics
   - Molecular targets and drugs molecular mechanisms of action
2) Pharmacokinetics: what does the organism do to drugs?
   - Drug administration
   - Absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion of drugs
3) The use of anesthetics and analgesics in aquatic species
   - Local Anesthetics and General Anesthetics. Anesthetic Techniques
   - Opioid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics
4) Antiparasitic and antifungal agents in aquatic species
   - External and internal deworming agents
   - Topical and systemic antifungals
5) Antibiotics in aquatic species
   - Major antibiotic groups
   - The problem of resistance considering the concept of “One Health”
6) Emerging themes in pharmacology applied to aquatic species
- Immunostimulants and others
- Importance of aquatic species in the development of new drugs

PRACTICAL / THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL CLASSES

1) Pharmacodynamics
   - Concentration-response curves
   - Action of agonists (total and partial) and antagonists (reversible and irreversible)
2) Pharmacokinetics
   - Drug administration and sample collection
   - Training of the most common administration / collection routes
3) Anesthetics and Analgesics
   - Anesthesia case studies
   - Analgesia case studies
4) Antiparasitic and Antifungal
   - Antiparasitics - Practical cases
   - Antifungals - Practical cases
5) Antibiotics
   - Antibiotherapy case studies
   - Debate on the pros and cons of antibiotic use in aquatic species
6) Tutoring of students' final monographic work

Mandatory literature

James M. Ritter, Rod J. Flower, Graeme Henderson, Yoon Kong Loke, David MacEwan and Humphrey P. Rang. ; Rang & Dale's Pharmacology, 9th Edition. , Elsevier, 2019. ISBN: 9780702074479
Jim E. Riviere and Mark G. Papich. ; Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 10th Edition., Wiley-Blackwell., 2017. ISBN: 978-1-118-85588-1

Complementary Bibliography

William H. Wildgoose; BSAVA Manual of Ornamental Fish, 2nd Edition, Wiley, 2002. ISBN: 978-0-905-21457-3
K. M. Treves-Brown; Applied Fish Pharmacology, Springer Netherlands, 2000. ISBN: 978-94-017-0761-9
Laurence Brunton, Bjorn Knollman, Randa Hilal-Dandan; Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 13th Edition, McGraw-Hill Education, 2017. ISBN: 978-1259584732

Teaching methods and learning activities

The teaching methodology was designed to allow students, after the presentation of the most important contents, to apply the acquired knowledge in a practical and interactive way, valuing the students’ participation.

The program was organized into thematic groups, which are developed over a week. The fundamental contents are presented expositively, in lectures, using audiovisual means. During the remainder of the week, these concepts are deepened and discussed in the form of theoretical-practical classes (with presentation and discussion of practical cases, debates, etc.) and practical classes (biological sampling methods and drug administration training) in fish, allowing sudents to solidify their knowledge.
During the final week students will have the opportunity to present a monographic work on relevant topics in the field of aquatic species pharmacology, which will be discussed by all students.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	56,00
Frequência das aulas	49,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must attend at least 75% of the practical / theoretical-practical classes

Calculation formula of final grade

Attendance conditions: At least 75% of the practical classes are required. Only under these conditions can the student take the final exam.

1) Theoretical assessment: written exam

2) Practical assessment: written monograph on a relevant topic, with its presentation and discussion

Evaluation formula: Final theoretical exam (60%) + Monographic work (40%).

. The practical grade is valid for 2 academic years (including the year in which it was obtained).
. The final exam is conducted in Moodle. Minimum score of 9.5 points (out of 20 points).

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