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Eradicable Diseases (VETS90089)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2018

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Overview

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This subject focuses on eradicable infectious diseases.

Within the past 50 years a number of previously endemic diseases have been successfully eradicated from a number of countries, including bovine tuberculosis (BTB), bovine brucellosis, contagious pleuropneumonia, rinderpest and rabies. Although similar general eradication strategies were applied (usually by vaccination and/or test and slaughter) each of these diseases posed distinct challenges when eradication strategies were implemented in different countries. Thus, for example, BTB was readily eradicated from Australia but due to a wildlife reservoir, not from New Zealand.

This subject will use online lecture notes and study materials to provide students with an in-depth understanding of developing and implementing an animal disease eradication strategy. Accordingly, it will deepen the understanding gained from VETS90083 Selection and Interpretation of Lab Tests and VETS90086 Epidemiology of Epidemics, and expand on the understanding from VETS90087 Transboundary Animal Diseases and VETS90088 Vectorborne & Wildlife Reservoir Disease.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students will have gained:



  • A comprehensive understanding of epidemiology and diagnosis of several important eradicable animal diseases: bovine tuberculosis (BTB), bovine brucellosis, contagious pleuropneumonia, rinderpest and rabies
  • An in-depth familiarity of the literature describing the events of some of the eradication campaigns of these diseases, including the pleuropneumonia and BTEC campaigns in Australia, the eradication of rabies from western Europe, and rinderpest from Africa and Asia
  • A capability to make a critical evaluation of the management of animal disease eradication campaigns, including handling the difficult tail end of a campaign when political will may be flagging and all detections need to be treated as emergencies

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should have developed their:

  • Ability to critically interpret the scientific literature describing historical animal disease eradication campaigns
  • Ability to read and write reports critically evaluating the planning and implementation of animal disease eradication programs

Last updated: 3 November 2022