Health and Pathology of Aquatic Animals

Code:

MA323

Acronym:

SPAA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Applied Biology

Instance: 2015/2016 - 2S (of 26-04-2016 to 17-06-2016)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Aquatic Production
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	26	Plan 2012 to 2017	3	-	5	49	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Provide the students with knowledge in fish hygiene and health, giving special attention to the most frequent fish pathogens and their negative effects on aquaculture. Give the students a profound understanding of the different diagnostic methods and their potentials and limitations. Make the students aware of the different aspects of disease prevention in fish.

Learning outcomes and competences

The different practices and methods of disease control in aquaculture and the importance of sanitary prophylaxis. In-depth knowledge of diagnostics methods, their difficulties and limitations. Predisposing factors for outbreak of fish diseases. Different methods applied on fish vaccination.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1-Pathology Basic knowledge of Pathology. Basic concepts underlying the several pathological processes. 2-Disease Control in Aquaculture Different practices and methods of disease control in aquaculture. Difficulties with therapeutics in aquaculture. The vital importance of sanitary prophylaxis. The different levels of intervention and their consequences. In the production unit; on national level; international cooperation. Notifiable diseases. 3-Diagnostics Sending biological material for diagnostics. Considerations when analysing biological material. Macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Search for parasites. Search for ictiobacteria. Isolation, characterization and identification of ictiobacteria. Different methods of diagnosis (classic, immunological, molecular). Advantages and disadvantages with the different diagnostic methods. 4-Parasitoses Predisposing factors for outbreak of parasite diseases. Microscopic observation and identification of the most common parasites. Different ways of preventing parasite diseases. Basic theoretic understanding of parasites belonging to different taxonomic groups. 5-Ictiobacterioses General etiology of ictiobacterioses. Incubation period; symptoms and/or lesions; diagnostics and prognostics. Basic understanding of evolution of ictiobacterioses and predisposing factors. Identification of ictiopathogenic bacteria. Disease carriers. Practice in identification and classification of ictiopathogenic bacteria. Basic theoretical knowledge of the most important ictiobacterioses. 6-Fish Mycosis and Viruses Cutaneous and systemic micoses. Consequences of viral infection. Virulence. Persistent virus infections (carriers). Horizontal and vertical disease transmission. Understanding of virus transmission in fish. Basic understanding of ways of identifying virus. Notifiable viruses. 7-Fish Immune System Basic knowledge of the fish immune system functions. Understanding the immunological memory in fish. Differences between invertebrates and vertebrates. Ontogeny of the immune system. Physiology of the immune response. Factors that affect the response (temperature, age, stress). Immuno-modelling. 8-Vaccination, Immunostimulants and probiotics Vaccination and the different methods applied on fish (oral, injection, bath). Issues to consider when developing vaccines. Basic notions about immunostimulants and probiotics. 9-Introduction and Transfer Introduction and transfer of aquatic organisms. Accidental or intentional introductions and their consequences. Code of conduct of introduction and transfer of aquatic organisms.

Mandatory literature

Aquaculture for Veterinarians: fish husbandry and medicine, Lydia Brown, 1993
Fish Medicine, Michael Stoskopf, 1993
Systemic pathology of Fish, Hugh Fergunson, 1987

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical lectures Theoretical-Practical classes: Discussion of problems frequently encountered in aquaculture hygiene and fish health Practical classes: Laboratory work within the discipline Study visits

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	83,00
Frequência das aulas	49,00
Total:	132,00

Calculation formula of final grade

Written final exam - 75% Presentation and discussion of scientific papers. -25%

Examinations or Special Assignments

Preparation and discussion of scientific papers Written essay and oral presentation

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Written exam

Classification improvement

Written exam