1. Handbook
  2. Subjects
  3. Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology
  4. Print

Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology (VETS90137)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2022 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
Subjects taught in 2022 will be in one of three delivery modes: Dual-Delivery, Online or On Campus.
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
You’re currently viewing the 2022 version of this subject

Overview

Availability
Semester 2
FeesLook up fees

This subject introduces students to the study of bacterial and fungal infectious agents as causes of disease in animals. It includes taxonomic and biological considerations of common and important bacterial and fungal pathogens, the host-pathogen interaction and the pathogenesis of disease, disease transmission and epidemiology, methods of diagnosis of bacterial and fungal diseases as well as prevention, control and treatment.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Explain how the biological characteristics and virulence factors of bacteria and fungi causing common and important diseases of animals contribute to the clinical signs and subclinical effects of these pathogens in infected individuals, and the scientific criteria that must be fulfilled to describe them as the causal agents of these diseases
  • Apply an understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of infectious diseases to devise appropriate and effective methods for diagnosing, treating, controlling and preventing these diseases in individual animals and in populations
  • Describe the principles underlying therapy with antimicrobial drugs, including the basis for their activity, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principals underlying therapy, and the mechanisms conferring intrinsic and acquired antimicrobial resistance and its dissemination, and the principles of antimicrobial stewardship, and apply them to selection of appropriate therapeutic regimens in veterinary settings
  • Explain the basis of laboratory microbiological diagnosis and apply this knowledge to detection and identification of a range of specific pathogenic bacteria and fungi
  • Describe the sources, modes of transmission, risks to human health and methods for control of zoonotic bacteria and fungi that infect domestic, farmed and wild animals in Australia and internationally

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should:

  • 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 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
  • Be able to apply technology to the analysis of biological problems.

Last updated: 10 November 2023

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
VETS90130 Veterinary Virology
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 6.25

Corequisites

All students are to enrol into the following corequisite subject, unless directed by the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences:

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
VETS90136 Veterinary Public Health
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 6.25

Non-allowed subjects

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
VETS90100 Infections and Immunity B
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 18.75

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: 10 November 2023

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Practical test

  • 1 hours
Week 8‐1035%

Written examination

  • 2 hours
Hurdle requirement: Students must achieve a minimum mark of 40% in the written examination to be eligible to pass the subject.		During the examination period65%

Aggregate Mark

Hurdle requirement: Students must pass the subject on aggregate mark.		N/A

Last updated: 10 November 2023

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    Principal coordinatorsJoanne Allen and Marc Marenda
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours43 hours of lectures, practical classes and workshops
    Total time commitment100 hours
    Teaching period25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022
    Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022
    Census date31 August 2022
    Last date to withdraw without fail23 September 2022
    Assessment period ends18 November 2022

    Semester 2 contact information

    mmarenda@unimelb.edu.au

    jlallen@unimelb.edu.au

Last updated: 10 November 2023

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:

    TypeName
    CourseDoctor of Veterinary Medicine

Last updated: 10 November 2023