General Pathology (Nosology and Physiopathology)

With the study of Nosology, we attempt that students will be able to describe, from a general point of view, the morbid process: to analyse its causes and the reaction of the organism against them, to study the functional derangement it causes, to know their sensory perceptible manifestations and evolution ways, to qualify the morbid process through making a clinical judgement and, finally, to know the criteria to name and classify diseases.
Through the study of Physiopathology, the student should know the functional disorders which originate the morbid processes and which are the base of the symptoms and syndromes of the different diseases. To do so, s/he should know the aetiological agents susceptible to produce functional disorders, pathogeny or the way they act and to deduce functional alterations produced at an organic level.

Theoretical contents (33 hours).
The subject is structured into the following thematic blocks:

1. Introduction (4 hours): Nosology (2 hours). External agents as a cause of disease (physical & chemical agents, radiations and electricity): 1 hour. General Adaptation Syndrome: Stress in Veterinary Medicine (1 hour).
2. Pathophysiology - 29 hours divided as follows:
a. Metabolism, internal milieu and endocrine system (4 hours): Pathophysiology of fluids and electrolytes: dehydration, hyperhydration; Hyper- and hypokalaemia; hyper e hypomagnesaemia (1 hour). Pathophysiology of the acid-base balance: Acidosis and alkalosis (1 hour). Pathophysiology of the endocrine system: General pathogenesis of endocrine syndromes affecting the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, syndromes affecting the adrenals, syndromes affecting thyroid, syndromes affecting the endocrine pancreas and syndromes that affect the parathyroid gland and calcium metabolism (1.5 hours) metabolism of lipids, proteins, minerals and carbohydrates (0.5 hours)
b. Respiratory apparatus (4 hours): the semiology of dyspnoea. External and internal respiratory insufficiencies (1 hour), circulatory disorders of the lung (pulmonary congestion and pulmonary hypertension passive) and pulmonary syndromes (emphysema, fibrosis, atelectasis, syndromes of condensation and cavitations) (2 hour), pleural syndromes (pneumothorax, pleural effusion) and mediastinal syndrome (1 hour).
c. Temperature and cardiovascular system (6 hours): Temperature (0.5 hours). Pathophysiology of the pericardium, myocardium and endocardium (1 hour), central and peripheral circulatory failure, coronary insufficiency (1.5 hours). Arrhythmias (1 hour), valvulopathies (1 hour) and Pathophysiology of the vessels (1 hour)
d. Blood (3 hours): Pathophysiology of erythrocytes (1 hour); pathophysiology of leukocytes (1 hour) and Pathophysiology of platelets and haemostasis disorders (1 hour).
e. Digestive system (6 hours): Pathophysiology of the mouth, pharynx and salivary glands (1 hour); pathophysiology of the oesophagus and stomach of monogastric animals (1 hour); pathophysiology of gut (1 hour); pathophysiology of liver disorders (1 hour) pathophysiology of the exocrine pancreas (0.5 hours), pathophysiology of the peritoneum (0.5 hours); pathophysiology of ruminant forestomachs (1 hour)
f. Renal Apparatus (2 hours): micturition disorders (frequency, strangury, dysuria, incontinence, renal) and diuresis (polyuria, oliguria and anuria) and renal functional pathology (cystitis, urolithiasis, alterations of the esteanuric function) (1 hour). Renal Pathology (pyelonephritis, nephritis/nephrosis, hydronephrosis, renal insufficiencies) (1 hour)
g. Nervous and Locomotive Systems (2 hours): Pathophysiology of the locomotive system (bones, joints and muscles) (1 hour). Pathophysiology of the Nervous System: Brain and Motor Neuron alterations (1 hour).
h. Immunopathology (2 hours): Hypersensitivity reactions (1 hour), autoimmune and immunodeficiency diseases (1 hour).

Clinical practices (24 hours). Practicals are related to the following topics:
PATO C1. Clinical cases related to acid-base balance disturbances: Evaluation of clinical situations (3 hours).
PATO C2. Clinical cases related to thermoregulation (1.5 hour).
PATO C3. Clinical and laboratory assessment of effusions (3 hours).
PATO C4. Cardiology clinical cases. Use of blood pressure in pets (3 hours).
PATO C5. Approach to the renal patient: Clinical evaluation of the renal functionality. Proteinuria, classification of renal failures. Resolution of clinical cases (2 hours).
PATO C6. Gastrointestinal clinical cases: Resolution of different clinical cases related with digestive alterations on the different animal species (3,5 hours).
PATO C7. Haematology clinical cases: Resolution of clinical cases related to haematology (3,5 hours).
PATO C8. Neurology clinical cases: Approximation to the patient with a disease of the locomotive or nervous system. Resolution of clinical situations on a real context (4,5 hours).


Seminars (5 hours).
PATO S1. Seminar of Nosology (1 hour).
PATO S2. Seminar of Electrocardiography (2 hours)
PATO S3. Seminar of Clinical Biopathology (2 hours)

Tutorials (1 hour).
PATO T1. Main aspects relative to discipline: regulations and rules (1 hour)

Basic bibliography

Blood, D.C. (1996). Manual de Medicina Veterinaria. Ed. McGraw-Hill

Castro del Pozo, S. (2006) Manual de patología general. Etiología, fisiopatología, semiología, síndromes. 6ª ed. Masson, Barcelona.

Esteller, A., Cordero, M. (1998) Fundamentos de fisiopatología. McGraw-Hill Interamericana, Madrid.

Feldman OW et al. (2000) Schalm’s Veterinary Hematology. 5th ed, Philadelphia : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Jain, N.C. (1993). Essentials of veterinary hematology. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia.

Kaneko, J.J., Harvey J, Bruss, M. (2008) Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals.6 th ed. Academic Press, San Diego.

Merck, N.J. (2007) El manual Merck de veterinaria. 9ª ed. Centrum Técnicas y Científicas, Madrid.

Stockham, S.L. (2008) Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. 2nd ed. Ames, Iowa, Blackwell cop.

Stockham, S.L., Scott, M.A. (2008). Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Iowa State Press.

Tizard, I.R. (2009) Inmunología Veterinaria. 8ª ed. Elsevier



Complementary bibliography

Andrews, A.H., Blowey, R.W., Boyd, H., Eddy, R.G. (2004). Bovine Medicine: Diseases and Husbandry of Cattle. 2ª ed. Ed. Blackwell Publishing.

Cowell, R.L. et al. (2009). Diagnóstico citológico y hematológico del perro y el gato. 3ª ed. Elsevier, Barcelona.

Davies, Ch y Shell, L. (2003) Diagnóstico frecuente en pequeños animales: Un método algorítmico. McGraw-Hill.

Day, M.J. (1999) Atlas en color de Enfermedades Inmunomediadas del perro y del gato. Cuadros clínicos, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Grass Edicións, Barcelona.

Day, M.J. (2008) Clinical immunology of the dog and cat. Manson Publishing

Divers, T. J., Peek, S. (2007). Rebhun’s Diseases of Dairy Cattle. 2ªed. Ed. Saunders Elsevier.

Ettinger, S.J., Feldman, E.C. (2010). Textbook of veterinary internal medicine: diseases of the dog and cat. 7 th ed. WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia.

García Partida, P., Prieto Montaña, F., Gutiérrez Panizo, C., Mayer Valor, R. (1999). Exploración clínica veterinaria. Ed. Universidad de León, León.

López Villalba, I., Mesa Sánchez, I. (2015). Guía práctica de interpretación analítica y diagnóstico diferencial en pequeños animales: hematología y bioquímica. Grupo Asís Biomedia, Zaragoza.

Nelson, R.W., Couto, C. (1995) Pilares de Medicina Interna en Animales Pequeños. Intermédica, Buenos Aires.

Nelson, R.W., Couto, C. (2010) Medicina Interna de Pequeños Animales. 4ª ed. Elsevier, Barcelona.

Radostits, O.M., Gay, C.G., Clive, C., Blood, D.C., Hinchcliff, K.W. (2001) Medicina Veterinaria: Tratado de las enfermedades del ganado vacuno, ovino, porcino, caprino y equino. Interamericana-McGrawHill. Madrid

Rebar, A.H. et al. (2002). Manual de hematología de perros y gatos. Ed. Multimédica S.A

Salvat (1992) Diccionario Terminológico de Ciencias Médicas. 13ª ed. Salvat, Barcelona.

Smith, B.P. (2010). Medicina interna de grandes animales. 4ª ed. Ed. Elsevier España, S.L.

Sodikoff, CH. (2002) Pruebas diagnósticas y de laboratorio en pequeños animales. Una guía para el diagnóstico de laboratorio. 3ª ed. Harcourt, Madrid.

Straw, B.E. (2001). Enfermedades del cerdo. 8ª ed. Inter-médica. Buenos Aires.

Tilley, L. P. (1992) Essentials of canine and feline electrocardiography. 3rd ed. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia.

Underwood, E.J. & Suttle, N.J. (2002) Los minerales en la nutrición del ganado. 3ª ed. Acribia, Zaragoza.

Ynaraja, E. (2017) Manual clínico de presión sanguínea en perros y

General skills
GVUSC01. Ability to learn and adapt.
GVUSC02. Capability for analysis and synthesis.
GVUSC04. Planning and work management.
GVUSC05. Capability to put knowledge into practice.
GVUSC06. Capability to work both independently and as part of a team.
GVUSC09. Capability to communicate in different areas.

Disciplinary skills
CEDVUSC 05. Basic and applied principles of the immune response.
CEDVUSC 07. Knowledge of the changes in the structure and function of the animal organism.
CEDVUSC 15. To know the rights and duties of the veterinarian, with special emphasis on ethical principles.
CEDVUSC 16. To know the basic analytical techniques and its interpretation.

Professional competences
D1VUSC 03. Perform standard laboratory tests, and interpret clinical, biological and chemical results.
D1VUSC 04. Diagnose common diseases using complementary protocols and diagnostic techniques.
D1VUSC 17. Perform technical reports specific to veterinary competencies.

Academic competences
CEAVUSC 01. Analyse, synthesize and solve problems and make decisions within the scope of the Veterinary profession.
CEAVUSC 03. Disclose information obtained during the Veterinary professional practice in an easy oral and written way, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.
CEAVUSC 04. Search and manage information related to veterinary practice.
CEAVUSC 05. Know and apply the scientific method in professional practice, including evidence-based medicine.
CEAVUSC 08. Being aware of the need to keep professional skills and knowledge up-to-date through a process of lifelong learning.

Transversal skills
CTVUSC 01. Capacity for reasoning and argument.
CTVUSC 02. Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information by various means such as literature and Internet information, and critically analyse 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
CTVUSC 05. Skill in the use of ICTs.
CTVUSC 06. Use information in a foreign language.
CTVUSC 07. Ability to solve problems through the Integration and application of knowledge

Theoretical contents: The lecturer will make available in advance to the lecture a guide which contains all the material needed to begin the study of each thematic unit. The student is supposed to work independently with the guide, so that the lectures will focus on an overview of the topic, the resolution of questions that arise from the student’s self-study, the presentation of representative clinical cases and guidance of the lecture to further readings and supplementary materials. During each session, questions may be asked to evaluate the student's learning progression of each of the contents taught during the session, and which will contribute to the final continuous assessment grade. Class dispensation is not applicable.
For the comprehension during the study of the topics "External agents" and "Stress" students will have to solve a series of crossword puzzles (Theory of the serious game) whose solutions will be part of the multiple-choice questions in the final exam.

Practical contents: Once the students know the systematic of solving clinical cases (showed previously at the lecture), they will solve in groups different clinical cases. Prior to the realization of Practice 7 (PATO C7), the students must visualize an informative video helpful for the development of it. During each session, questions may be asked to evaluate the student's learning progression of each of the contents taught during the session, which will contribute to the final continuous assessment grade. Class dispensation is not applicable.

Seminars (5 hours):
In the first seminar we will introduce the student to the tools necessary to tackle the pathogenic mechanisms of diseases, as well as the identification of the different morbid processes in the animals (1 hour). In the second and third seminars, of two hours each, aspects related to the study of electrocardiography in veterinary medicine and clinical biopathology will be dealt with.
During each session, questions may be asked to evaluate the student's learning progression of each of the contents taught during the session, and which will contribute to the final continuous assessment grade. Class dispensation is not applicable.

Tutorials (1 hour):
At the first tutorial, the course, its objectives, working methodology, assessment methods and bibliography will be presented
A Virtual Learning Environment for the course will be available for the students at the University’s virtual campus; where teachers will upload different files for the theoretical and practical contents. As well as supplementary materials such as further reading suggestions, clinical cases, images and videos galleries, links to websites… In addition, forums will be created to resolve doubts and to make suggestions.

The assessment of the course will be based on a continuous assessment system (30%) and a final exam (70% of the final mark).

The continuous assessment includes, in a weighted way, the level of exploitation of lectures (where the student might have to answer, in written form, some multiple-choice questions during the lecture, about the content thereof), practical (through the exercises/clinical cases that the students will have to do) and other activities such as essays that will be proposed in relation to some topics. For those students who passed the continuous but failed to pass the subject, their qualification will be maintained the next year.

The final exam will consist of 50 multiple choice or short answer questions (definitions, completing phrases or looking relationship between concepts) or images/videos/sounds and 5 essay questions and/or clinical cases. The student will pass the subject if the sum of the marks of continuous assessment and the written examination paper is above 5.0 on a 0-10 scale, where students will be required to obtain at least a 50% in the written exam, in order to pass the discipline.

During of each activity, questions may be asked to evaluate the student's learning progression of each of the contents taught during the activity, which will contribute to the final continuous assessment grade. Class dispensation is not available.

In the case of fraudulent exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulations for the evaluation of students' academic performance and the review of grades will apply.

The exam schedule, approved by the Board of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine will be available (room, data and hour) at the institutional webpage. For the call of July, exposed in the institutional webpage, it is only possible to improve the mark obtained in the written part of the assessment, maintaining the mark obtained in the continuous assessment.

IN CLASSROOM WORKLOAD (63h)
Lectures: 33h
Clinical practices: 24h
Seminars: 5h
Tutorials in small groups: 1h

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING AND INDIVIDUAL STUDY OF THE STUDENT (87h)
Individual study: 58h
Preparation of reports: 12h
Oral presentations: 3h
Use of learning resources: 6h
Clinical cases resolutions: 4h
Assessment: 4h

TOTAL (150h)

Students are encouraged to have basic knowledge of Physiology, Biochemistry, Immunology and other subjects of the previous semesters. This will help students to accelerate learning and understanding of this subject. Moreover, basic knowledge of the English language is also highly recommended, since much of the bibliography is not translated into Spanish.

For cases of fraudulent exercise or will apply in the Regulations for the evaluation of students' academic performance and the review of qualifications.