DYR204 Infection Biology and Pharmaceutics

Infection biology and pharmacology is an integration of the disciplines hematology, bacteriology and disease prevention, cleaning and disinfection, virology, parasitology, immunology and pharmacology. The purpose of the teaching block is to give students an overview of microorganisms that can cause disease in animals and humans, and provide an understanding of disease development and how the body responds to such infectious agents. This is the first systematic approach to illness and disease defenses and form an important foundation for students to understand the manifestations they encounter in clinical medicine. This represents an important foundation for disease prevention and immune prophylaxis to prevent disease transmission between animals, and between animals and humans. In this block, students get an introduction to hematological methodology for implementing practical hematological investigations. Pharmacology teaching will give the students an overview of the most common drugs used for animals and explain the principles for optimal medication management.

Teaching in infection biology is an integrated part of six subjects, whereas pharmacology will be adressed afterwards. The teaching of bacteriology and disease prevention, disinfection, parasitology, virology, immunology, and hematology are partly presented in an integrated manner, and take the form of lectures, practical courses, group work and organized seminars. In addition, students will work on group assignments in infection biology and present them orally to the rest of the class and teachers. This task is graded as pass / fail. If a group does not pass, their presentation must be revised and presented to the teachers again. The teaching of pharmacology is given in the form of lectures and organized study groups.

Learning outcomes:

After completing the teaching the student should

• Have knowledge of the main microorganisms (viruses, bacteria and parasites) and knowing how these infects between animals, and furthermore how zoonotic agents can be transmitted between animals and humans
• Have knowledge about appropriate strategies for sampling and analytical procedures to detect microorganisms in animals.
• Explain the importance of cleaning, disinfection and hygiene to prevent transmission of infectious diseases between animals, and between animals and humans.
• Be familiar with the main principles of how the immune system works
• Be familiar with the most common drugs used in animals
• Have knowledge about basic pharmacological terminology

After completing the course the student should

• Handle animals with infectious diseases and implement hygiene measures to prevent the spread of infection
• Inform animal owners about vaccination procedures and parasite treatments
• Handling blood samples in such a way that the results of blood analyses (hematological, biochemical, immunological parameters) are representative
• Perform simple analysis to detect endo- and ectoparasites
• Handle microbiological samples in such a way that the test results are representative
• Handle pharmaceuticals in a proper manner.

DYR207 will help the students acquire the skills and knowledge described in the following ACOVENE Competences from ACOVENEs Dossier of Competencies of the Accreditation Committee of Veterinary Nurse Education :

• EC 1 Health and safety
• EC 3 Carry out veterinary reception duties
• EC 4 Manage clinical environments for procedures and investigations
• EC 6 Provide and administer nursing care
• EC 7 Supporting clients in caring for animals
• EC 8 Perform Laboratory Diagnostic Tests
• EC 10 Prepare for veterinary surgical procedures
• EC 12 Assist in the provision of anaesthetics to animals
• EC 13 Dispense and administer medication