Ecopathology in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Wild Animals

The aim of this subject is forming students in microbiological and parasitic diagnosis, epidemiology, clinic, treatment, control and prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases of wild life animal species (especially vertebrates), bred in captivity species for restocking game supplies, bred animals for leather industry, and in those wild animals intended for cultural or didactic exhibitions or as pets.

Theoretical classes (10 hours)
Unit 1: Management of wildlife and its socioeconomic and health importance.
Unit 2: Diagnosis, control and prevention of the main parasitic diseases.
Unit 3: Endoparasitosis of ruminants.
Unit 4: Ectoparasitosis of ruminants.
Unit 5: Main parasitic infections of other game species.
Unit 6. Infectious pathology in wild fauna species.
Unit 7. Infectious diseases in ruminants, suids, carnivores, lagomorphs and wild birds.
Unit 8. Sanitary management of infectious diseases in wild animals populations.
The first six units and topic 8 correspond to an expository class. Unit 7 will be taught in three expository classes.


Laboratory practices (EEIAS LB1-LB16 G1) (16 hours, 1 hour per session): Microbiological, serological, parasitological and molecular biology assays frequently used in the laboratory for the diagnosis of infectious and parasitic diseases of wildlife.

Seminars: 2 seminars (EEIAS S1-S2 G1) (2 hours, 1 hour per session): for the revisions of different aspects of wild animals health. Students will also present orally their group works during the seminars.

Tutorials: 2 tutorials (EEIAS T1-T2 G1) (2 hours, 1 hour per session): scheduled tutorials at established times, dedicated to the proposal and supervision of works, clarification of doubts about theory, problems, exercises, programs, readings or other proposed tasks, debate or commentary on works.

Basic bibliography:
-Acha, P.N. & Szyfres, B. (2003) Zoonosis y enfermedades transmisibles comunes al hombre y a los animales. (3ª Edición). Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS/OMS). Washington.
-Bush, A.O.; Fernández, J.C.; Esch, G.W. et Seed J.R. (2001).- Parasitism. The diversity and ecology of animal parasites. Cambridge Univ. Press. 566 pp.
-Fowler, M.E. and Miller R.E. (1999 4th ed.). Zoo and wild animal medicine: current therapy. W.B.
Saunders, Philadelphia. 617 pp.
-Gavier-Widén,D. et al (2012). Infectous diseases of Wild mammals and birds in Europe. Wiley-Blackwell.. UK. 513 pp.
-Master Universitario Internacional en Gestión y Conservación de la fauna salvaje. Módulo II: Ecopatología de la fauna salvaje. (2000). WAVES, Zamora. 424 pp.

Complementary bibliography:
-Boucher, S. and Lardeux, B. (1995). Maladies des pigeons. Éditions France Agricole, París. 191 pp.
-Girling S. and Raiti P. (2004, 2nd Ed.). BSAVA Manual of Reptiles. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley. 350 pp.
-Harcourt-Brown N. and Chitty J.R. (2005, 2nd Ed.) BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley. 320 pp.
-McArthur S., Wilkinson R. and Meyyer J. (2004). Medicine and Surgery of Tortoises and Turtles. Blackwell Publishing, Abingdon. 600 pp.
-Meredith A. and Redrobe S. (2002, 4th Ed.) BSAVA Manual of Exotics Pets. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley. 312 pp.
-Meredith A. and Flecknell P. (2006, 2nd Ed.). BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley. 200 pp.
-Bowman, D. D. (2011). Georgis Parasitología para veterinarios. (9ª edición). Editorial Elsevier España. Madrid.
-Pato, F.J., Váquez, L., López, C.M., Panadero, R., Lago, N., Morrondo, P., Fernández, G. 2011. -Prevalencia de brucelosis, tuberculosis y paratuberculosis en corzos cazados en Galicia (NO de España) en 2007-2008. Galemys. 22, 295-308.
-Pato, F.J., Panadero, R., Fernández, G. 2013. Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Northestern Spain. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 44, 660-665.
-Pato, F.J., Váquez, L., Díez Baños, N., López, C., Sánchez Andrade, R., Fernández, G., Díez Baños, P., -Panadero, R., Díaz, P., Morrondo, P. 2013. Gastrointestinal nematode infections in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from the NW of the Iberian Peninsula: Assessment of some risk factors. Veterinary Parasitology. 196, 136-142.
-Vázquez, L.; Dacal, V.; Pato, F.J.; Díaz, P.; Painceira, A.; Fernández, G.; Morrondo, P.; Díez-Baños, P. 2011. Ectoparásitos presentes en corzos (Capreolus capreolus) de Galicia (NO España). Galemys. 22, 243-253.
-Williams E.S. and Barker I.K. (2001). Infectious diseases of wild mammals. Manson publishing, London. 558 pp.
-Wobeser G. (2005). Essentials of diseases in Wild Animals. Blackwell Publishing, Abingdon. 256 pp.
Taylor, M., Coop, R. & Wall, R. (2007). Veterinary Parasitology. Blackwell Publishing; 3rd Ed. 600 pp
Websites:
Boletín Epidemiológico Semanal http://193.146.50.130/bes/bes.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov
Food and Agriculture Organization hhttp://www.fao.org
Oficina Internacional de Epizootías http://www.oie.int/esp/es_index.htm
Sociedad Euromediterránea para la vigilancia de la fauna salvaje http://www.masterwaves.es

General competences
GVUSC02. Capacity for analysis and synthesis.
GVUSC03. General knowledge of the work area.
GVUSC05. Capacity to put knowledge into practice.
GVUSC06. Capability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Disciplinary specific competences
CEDVUSC 08. Knowledge and diagnosis of the various animal diseases, both individual and collective, and their prevention measures, emphasizing on zoonosis and notifiable diseases.
CEDVUSC 13. Knowledge about the organizational, economic and management aspects in all fields of the veterinary profession.

Specific professional skills:
D1VUSC 02. To collect and send specimens with the corresponding reports.
D1VUSC 03. To perform standard laboratory tests, and interpret clinical, biological and chemical results.
D1VUSC 04. To diagnose common diseases using complementary protocols and diagnostic techniques.
D1VUSC 05. To perform epidemiological studies and develop prevention, control and eradication programs on animal diseases, with a focus on notifiable diseases and zoonoses.
D1VUSC 11. To evaluate and interpret health and production parameters of an animal group, considering the economic, environmental and welfare aspects, and seeking their optimization.
D1VUSC 17. To perform technical reports specific to veterinary competences.

Specific academic skills:
CEAVUSC 01. To analyze, synthesize and solve problems and make decisions within the scope of the Veterinary profession.
CEAVUSC 03. To disclose information obtained during the Veterinary professional practice in a easy oral and written way, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.


Transversal cometences:
CTVUSC 01. Capacity for reasoning and arguing.
CTVUSC 02. Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information by various means such as literature and Internet, and critically analyze it.
CTVUSC 03. Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text.
CTVUSC 04. Ability to make a clear, concise, and consistent public presentation.

During the training activities with the presence of the teacher class dispensation is not appropriate:
• Lectures (big group): Lessons imparted by the professor may have different formats (theory, problems and/or general examples, general guidelines of the matter). The professor may use audiovisual software but, generally, the students do not need computers in class. This lessons will be taught in the parasitology laboratory (Units 1 to 5) or in the infectious diseases laboratory (Units 6 to 8) in the pavilion 1 of the Veterinary faculty.
• Laboratory practices (reduced groups). Diagnosis of infectious and parasitic diseases. Sampling. These practices will be carried out in the parasitology and infectious diseases laboratories, pavilion 1.
• Tutorials (very reduced groups or individual ones): they will consist of programmed tutorials by the professor or to application of the student within the established schedules. Their aim is proposing and supervisig works, explaining possible doubts, carrying out problems, exercises, readings or other tasks, discussions or comments about works. Inquiries can also be made by email to teachers. The individual tutorials will be carried out in the professors’ offices; tutorials in reduced groups will be carried out in the seminar of the department.
• Seminars: practical/theoretical lessons where students will present their group works. Their works will be discussed with the other students clarifying possible doubts. During the seminars different aspects of importance in wildlife health will be reviewed. The seminars will take place in the parasitology laboratory of practises.
• Other formative activities.

The professor will take attendance and active Participation during lectures and practical lessons will be assessed. In addition students will have to translate the acquired knowledge into individual works during the seminars.

We can describe different parts in this course:
• A.- Theoretical work, where the professor will teach the included units in the program and the student will get the basic knowledge of the subject. The student will have to combine the assistance to these theoretical lessons with the reading of the recommended texts to expand his knowledge.
This activity will take place in person at the parasitology laboratory (Units 1 to 5) or at the infectious diseases laboratory (Units 6 to 8).
• B.- Individual works: Along the course, the students will make a group work about a disease or other topic related to the wild animal health. They should use the acquired knowledge during the lectures, the recommended bibliography, and the available tools for searching information. The work will be presented at the seminars.
This activity will take place in person at the parasitology laboratory.
• C.- Practical work: The student will have to participate in the obligatory practical sessions in this subject in order to develop the necessary skills for they will need in their professional future professional.
This activity will take place in person in the laboratories of the subject.
• D.- Programmed tutorials will be realized as well as individualized ones on request of students within the corresponding schedules.

The lessons could be taught in different classrooms depend on the number of students enrolled. They can be taught in the department's seminar or it may be necessary to request a classroom. The use of one or another classroom will depend on the availability of classrooms at that time, this information will be communicated to students through the virtual classroom.

Supports:
Throughout the course, students will have a face-to-face support, being able to make consultations to the different professors during the indicated tutorial hours. Students will also have a virtual support, being able to make consultations through e-mail.

The qualification of each student will be done by continuous evaluation and an individual work.
All the works and activities realized along the course will be considered for the final evaluation of the student (class dispensation is not appropriate), as well as the acquired knowledge and the developed practical skills. Thereby, the final evaluation of the student will take into account the following aspects.
1- Individual works: it will be valued presentation, content and difficulty of preparation.
2.- Continuous assessment /Written Exam (only for those students who do not pass the continuous assessment): Teachers will carry out written tests during the theoretical classes to evaluate the learned knowledge. The degree of participation in the practical and theoretical sessions will also be valued. A total of six tests will be carried out. To pass the continuous assessment it will be necessary to obtain an average score equal to or greater than 5 out of 10. The tests will be carried out during the hours of the theoretical lessons. These evaluations will not be saved, students who do not pass the continuous evaluation will have to take the four questions of the written exam.

Those students who do not pass the continuous assessment must sit a final face-to-face exam that will consist of:
• 4 short themes to develop schematically
Each subject will be graded from 1 to 10. Only 1 of the 4 qualifications could have a qualification lower than 3.

Once provisional marks are published, the student will be able to review his exercise, ask for doubts, or make suggestions or claims. The dates and places to review will be published altogether with the results of examinations.
Final qualification of the subject:
- Individual work: 50% of the final qualification,
- Continuous assessment /Written Exam (only for those students who do not pass the continuous assessment): 50% of the final qualification.

The criteria provided for the ordinary opportunity and for the extraordinary recovery opportunity will be the same. Non-attendance to practices will prevent the overcoming of the matter both in the ordinary opportunity of the semester, and in the recovery opportunity. Repeating students who have done the practices will not have to do them again.

For cases of fraudulent performing exercises or tests shall apply the article 16 of the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións ".

Non-individual work hours:
• Lectures: 10 h
• Practical lessons 16 h
• Seminars: 2 h
• Tutorials in reduced groups: 2 h
Total hours of face-to-face work: 30 hours

Individual work hours (45h)
• Individual study: 15 h
• Work preparation: 20 h
• Literature Review, library, etc.: 5 h
• Oral presentations: 4 h
• Examinations: 1 h
Total student's personal work hours: 45 hours.

Total workload: 75

It will be required a basic knowledge of animal pathology, parasitology and infectious diseases, epidemiology and ecology since it is essential to study the role that wild ruminants play as reservoirs of diseases which can affect humans and domestic animals.

The students have to be aware about their work during theoretical and practical lessons and works since it supposes the 50% of the final qualification. Therefore, it is highly recommended an active participation in these activities for facilitating to pass the course.

Coordinator Susana Remesar Alonso