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Infections Population & Pub. Health PtA (VETS90066)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Subject Coordinator: Prof James Gilkerson (jrgilk@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 1 Veterinary Microbiology, Immunology and Virology -
- Prof James Gilkerson (jrgilk@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 2 Veterinary Parasitology A -
- Dr Abdul Jabbar (jabbara@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 3 Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology A -
- Prof Mark Stevenson (mark.stevenson1@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 4 Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology -
- Dr Marc Marenda (mmarenda@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 5 Veterinary Parasitology B -
- Dr Rebecca Traub (rebecca.traub@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 6 Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology B -
- Assoc Prof Jo Devlin (devlinj@unimelb.edu.au)
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject introduces students to the study of infectious agents as causes of disease in animals. It includes as appropriate, taxonomic and life cycle considerations of arthropods, nematodes, trematodes and cestodes, protozoa, fungi, bacteria and viruses; the host-parasite interaction and the pathogenesis of disease, disease transmission and epidemiology, methods of diagnosis of infectious disease as well as vaccination and treatment. This understanding is then applied to the public health and food safety context where the focus is on promotion and protection of human health; and to the herd or flock level, where the multifactorial nature of disease is reviewed, and techniques for measurement and prediction of disease prevalence and population health are introduced.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Understand the important biological characteristics of infectious agents that cause disease in animals
- Understand how the immune system protects animals against pathogens
- Explain how infectious agents exert their pathogenic effects and produce clinical signs of disease
- Describe the distribution of infectious agents in nature and the methods of their spread amongst animals
- Describe the principles of therapeutic and non therapeutic control measures used to treat, limit or prevent infectious diseases
- Apply an understanding of distribution of infectious agents and disease transmission to the context of public health and food safety
- Appreciate the multifactorial nature of disease
- Explain how disease is measured and predicted in populations of animals
- Describe how clinical trials are designed
- Explain how the spread of disease is controlled
- Isolate and identify a range of infectious agents
- Recognise lesions associated with specific infectious diseases
- Describe the roles of veterinarians in contributing to public health through their involvement in animal production and management, food safety management, humane slaughter of livestock for food and disease outbreak investigations
Generic skills
- Have a broad knowledge of science across a range of fields, with an in-depth understanding in one scientific discipline
- Understand the scientific method, and the history and evolution of scientific concepts
- Be intellectually curious and apply a rigorous, critical and logical approach to enquiry
- Be able to communicate their ideas effectively in both written and verbal formats to both specialists and non-specialists
- Reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
- Be efficient managers of information
- Apply technology to the analysis of biological problems
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Satisfactory completion of all subjects at DVM1 level.
Corequisites
Students are to enrol into all four co-requisite subjects unless directed differently by the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences.
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
VETS90064 | Veterinary Bioscience 2A | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
18.75 |
VETS90068 | Applications in Animal Health 2 Part A | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
This subject assumes prior knowledge in one or more discipline of science. All students will be expected to be familiar with the principles of scientific thinking, hypothesis development, experimental design, and data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
This assessment is the combined assessment for both VETS90066 Infections Populations and Public Health Part A and VETS90067 Infections Population and Public Health Part B.
Six units will be undertaken in this subject:
Unit 1 Veterinary Microbiology, Immunology and Virology - (19% of total subject assessment)
- A two-hour written exam to be held at the end of semester 1 worth 13.5%
- A one-hour practical test during semester worth 3%
- A one-hour test during semester worth 2.5%
Unit 2 Veterinary Parasitology A - (16% of total subject assessment)
- A two-hour written exam to be held at the end of semester 1 worth 13.5%
- A one-hour practical test during semester 1 worth 2.5%.
Unit 3 Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology A - (11.5% of total subject assessment)
- A two-hour written exam to be held at the end of semester 1 worth 9%
- A one-hour test during the semester worth 2.5%
Unit 4 Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology - (16.5% of total subject assessment)
- A two-hour written exam to be held at the end of semester 2 worth 13.5%
- A one-hour practical test during semester 2 worth 3%
Unit 5 Veterinary Parasitology B - (16% of total subject assessment)
- A two-hour written exam to be held at the end of semester 2 worth 13.5%
- A one-hour practical test during semester 2 worth 2.5%
Unit 6 Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology B - (11% of total subject assessment)
- A two-hour written exam to be held at the end of semester 2 worth 8.5%
- One 1000-word research report due semester 2 worth 2.5%
In addition to the specific assessment of the Units (above):
- One group literature review assignment (electronic poster) that demonstrates the ability of the students to work as a team to identify and critically evaluate the key research concepts within a peer reviewed publication and to search the relevant literature for supporting primary research material due semester 2 worth5%
- One individual abstract presentation and tutorial presentation on the above research area due semester 2 worth 5%
Hurdle Requirements:
- Students are required to pass the subject on aggregate mark.
- The passing of each unit on aggregate mark is a hurdle requirement.
- A minimum mark of 40% in the end-of-semester examination component of any subject (and any unit within a subject) is required for a student to be eligible to pass that subject/unit.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator James Gilkerson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 336 hours Total time commitment 504 hours Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 30 May 2021 Last self-enrol date 12 March 2021 Census date 31 March 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 May 2021 Assessment period ends 25 June 2021 Semester 1 contact information
Subject Coordinator: Prof James Gilkerson (jrgilk@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 1 Veterinary Microbiology, Immunology and Virology -
- Prof James Gilkerson (jrgilk@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 2 Veterinary Parasitology A -
- Dr Abdul Jabbar (jabbara@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 3 Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology A -
- Prof Mark Stevenson (mark.stevenson1@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 4 Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology -
- Dr Marc Marenda (mmarenda@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 5 Veterinary Parasitology B -
- Dr Rebecca Traub (rebecca.traub@unimelb.edu.au)
Unit 6 Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology B -
- Assoc Prof Jo Devlin (devlinj@unimelb.edu.au)
Time commitment details
504 hours
Additional delivery details
- This subject continues over two consecutive study periods, with students first enrolling in VETS90066 Infections Populations and Public Health Part A and then subsequently enrolling in VETS90067 Infections Populations and Public Health Part B, the second part of this subject, for a total enrolment of 25 credit points.
- Students will receive an overall result for the subject following completion of the two-subject sequence.
- Information provided on this page applies to Part 1 and Part 2 of the subject (VETS90066 and VETS90067).
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Last updated: 3 November 2022