• Pathology
• Autopsy

Aim and learning outcomes

Pathology will provide students with sufficient knowledge of disease development (pathogenesis) and morphological changes of the most common diseases, and of important infectious diseases (Group A and B diseases) that are most likely to occur in production animals, horses and companion animals in Norway.

The block forms the basis so that the student after completing the course will master the following «Day one skills» by EAEVE: 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.20

After completing the course in pathology, the student should have obtained:

Theoretical knowledge:

• Ability to understand and explain the basis for disease development (pathogenesis) and explain the macroscopical and microscopical changes in common (infectious and non-infectious), as well as important infectious diseases (Group A and B diseases) of relevance for production animals, horses and companion animals in Norway. This applies to:
  • Nutritional disorders
  • Production diseases
  • Intoxications
  • Neoplasia
  • The most common congenital disorders
  • Viral infections
  • Bacterial infections
  • Fungal infections
  • Parasitic diseases
  • Prion diseases  
• Ability to make morphological diagnoses based on macroscopical and microscopical changes.

Practical skills:

• Ability to maintain high hygiene standards during autopsy of potentially infectious material. 
• Ability to conduct autopsies of domestic animals and describe and interpet the autopsy findings for the groups of diseases mentioned above.
• Ability to recognize changes in organs and tissues in production animals of relevance for food hygiene (meat inspection).
• Ability to assess the pathoanatomical diagnoses in relation to the clinical diagnoses and specify possible cause of death/etiology.
• Ability to retrieve samples for histological and microbiological examinations, and know how to handle and ship this material.

General aquired competence:

• Know when to inform and get advice from the diagnostic laboratory before submitting samples.
• Know their own limitations and when it is appropriate to bring in expertise, advices from laboratories or authorities.

In pathology the individual organ systems' disease processes, their causes, development and appearance are emphasized. 

Teaching is given in the form of approx 54 lectures during the 7th and 8th semesters. A demonstration of autopsy material is given daily when available. In addition, pathology specimen from sloughterhouse is demonstrated once a week the second half of the 8th semester. Each student participate in an obligatory group-based practical autopsy course, all together 19 days (before lunch) during the 7th and 8th semesters. A journal must be delivered for each autopsy case. The students have access to a rich and searchable archive with images via the website Noahs Arkive Online.

There are no organized practical teaching in histopathology, but it is arranged for group- or selfstudy in a room equipped with microscopes (one discussion microscope for 16 viewers, and single microscopes) and 2 boxes with selected histological slides are available. Histological sections from one of these boxes has been taught in the general pathology course in the 4th term (Vet306). Digitalised sections from both boxes will also be available from the students´ own computers.

Textbook: Zachary "Pathologic basis of veterinary disease", 6 edn (Elsevier)

Compendiums and lecture notes are available in Norwegian.

Examination

Permitted aids: None

The exam in pathology is held as an oral examination. This will be completed within 3-4 days (depending on the number of candidates) in the middle of May. A list presenting the time of examination for each candidate will be announced around 4 weeks ahead of the eaxm.

The examination will be performed like this:

• The candidate is assigned a task at the beginning of the exam.
• The task will consist of:
  • Theoretical questions
  • Qestions related to images of macroscopical or microscopical changes 
• The candidate gets 30 minutes in a single room to study the task and prepare for the exam.
• After the preparation the candidate will be examined, mainly focusing on the assigned task. However, supplementary questions from other areas of pathology may be asked. The examination will last for 45 minutes. 
• The results will be announced after all the candidates have been examinated.

An information meeting with more details will be held for the class in reasonable time before the exam. 

• Approx 54 lectures
• Approx 57 hours of obligatory autopsy work with some additional work on journals
• Approx 50 hours of daily demonstrations of autopsy material (will vary depending on access to material)

Requirements for personal equipment

None

HMS

There are separate infection locks by the entrance to the autopsy facilities. Coates, aprons, gloves and boots are available by the infection locks. At the section hall, HMS training is divided in 2 parts. First a briefing with HMS rules that the students must read and sign. This is supplemented with information and pictures illustrating the procedures. There is also a quiz put on Canvas that has to be completed to be allowed to participate in obligatory teaching in the autopsy hall. The second part consists of information given in the post mortem room on how to implement infection control practices.

Alle exam questions are approved by the external examiner before they are used.

The external examiner is present during the examination.