Veterinary Microbiology

Code:

MV216

Acronym:

MV

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences

Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S (of 12-09-2022 to 06-01-2023)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Veterinary Clinics
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	70	Official Study Plan	2	-	5	56	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Infectious diseases are amongst the most important diseases affecting domestic animals. The veterinarian must be able to recognize and control these. Therefore a veterinarian must understand the microbiology as well as the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the disease. Veterinary microbiology is a subject that will focus on morphological aspects, mechanisms of pathogenicity and laboratory diagnosis of microorganisms, with particular emphasis on animal health and zoonoses. 

Learning outcomes and competences

After successful conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Know different infectious agents with potencial pathologic impact in domestic animals
- Associate the name of infectious agents to the respective diseases
- Describe the main pathogenetic mechanisms of the diverse agents
- Relate morphologic characteristics of the agent with the respective diagnostic methods
- Critically read and comprehend scientific literature (publications in scientific journals)
- Know how to select and prepare a sample for laboratory submission
- Carry out a simple microbiological analysis (inoculation of blood agar, Mac Conkey....)
- Carry out the isolation and characterization of the agent by staining and biochemical tests
- Carry out the laboratory diagnosis of dermatophytes

Working method

Presencial

Program

Lectures
1. Pathogens and pathogenicity. Definitions. Factors of virulence. Characteristics of the relation between agent and host. Kochs Postulates. Pathogenic action: direct lesion + immuno-mediated lesion. 2. Imune response to infectious agents. 3. Aerobic Bacteria, Gram-positives: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus 4. Gram negative Bacteria: a) Enterobacteriacea: Escherichia, Salmonella, Yersinia, Proteus. b) Other: Bordetella, Pseudomonas, Actinobacillus, Mannheimia and Pasteurella, Haemophilus, Taylorella, Brucella 5. Curve and spiral bacteria: Campylobacter, Lawsonia, Leptospira, Borrelia 6. Anaerobic bacteria: Gram positives (Clostridium spp.) and Gram negatives (Bacteroides, Fusobacterium) 7. Bacteria without cell wall: Mycoplasma spp. 8. Obligate intracellular bacteria (Anaplasma, Chlamydia and Chlamydophila, Rickettsia) 9. Virology – Structure, classification, replication, general mechanism of infection, diagnosis, prophylaxis. Examples. Prions. 10. Mycology a) Dermatophytes: Microsporum, Trichophyton, Epidermophyton b) Systemic mycoses: Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Histoplasma c) Opportunistic mycoses: Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Candida 11. Antimicrobial resistance

Practical Program
- Organisation and safety in a microbiology laboratory
- Sampling and delivery of the samples to the laboratory
- Methodology of bacteriological, mycological and virological testing of clinical samples
- Culture and identification of Gram-positive bacteria
- Culture and identification of Gram-negative bacteria
- Diagnosis of common fungal infections of companion animals

Mandatory literature

Songer J. Glenn; Veterinary microbiology. ISBN: 978-0-7261-8717-9
Quinn P. J. 070; Veterinary microbiology and microbial disease. ISBN: 978-1-4051-5823-7

Complementary Bibliography

Carter G. R.; Essentials of veterinary microbiology. ISBN: 0-683-01473-0
Carter G. R. 340; Diagnostic procedures in veterinary bacteriology and mycology. ISBN: 0-12-161775-0
Fenner Frank J. 070; Veterinary virology. ISBN: 0-12-253056-X
Knipe David M. 340; Fields virology. ISBN: 978-0-7817-6060-7
Tizard Ian R.; Veterinary immunology. ISBN: 978-1-4160-4989-0
Mims Cedric A. 070; Mims. pathogenesis of infectious disease. ISBN: 0-12-498263-8

Teaching methods and learning activities

Interactive lectures. Laboratory practicals.

All course material is available on MOODLE.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho escrito	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	59,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance of the practical lessons as defined in "Regulamento Pedagógico e de Avaliação de Aproveitamento dos Estudantes" do ICBAS, Art. 19, Ponto 2  ("Do not exceed the maximum number of absences corresponding to 25% of predicted classes", ie, 3 Faults permitted).

The classes begin at the scheduled time. There is a tolerance of 5 minutes. Students arriving after this tolerance shall be marked as "absent" to the practical class in question.

It is the sole responsibility of the student to make sure that, at the beginning of each practical session, their presence has been properly recorded by the teacher. 

Attendance/Frequency of the practical lessons are kept from one academic year to the next (1 year).

Calculation formula of final grade

The final classification is composed by Continuing Evaluation (30%) and a written Test/Exam (70%).

The FINAL EXAM is compulsory. To approve the course unit the grade must me equal or greater than 9.5/20 values.

The components of the CONTINUING EVALUATION will be become available at the beginning of the classes.