Aims

The overall aim is to develop students’ understanding of the principles of animal physiology and health, and link between these two disciplines with particular reference to domestic animals (farm and companion animals). Broad knowledge of mammalian physiology will be provided as a foundation to understand how animal health can be disrupted through various challenges. The module will illustrate the contribution of various organ systems to the maintenance of the internal environment of the body of animals. The physiological mechanisms that allow body systems to perform their functions in mammals and the link of form with function will be examined in lecture material and a practical. The module will then introduce general concepts in animal health with examples of how animals deal with injuries and infections, covering a range of environmental elements and pathogenic organisms that disrupt health. Selected examples of physical, metabolic and infectious challenges to health and their management will be provided. The ethical and welfare considerations of animal health will be also addressed during the module.

Outline Of Syllabus

ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY:
•Components, organization and main function of organ systems:
-Cardiovascular system.
-Respiratory system.
-Digestive system.
-Endocrine system.
-Muscular system.
-Skeletal system.
-Nervous system.
-Immune system.
•Homeostatic circuits.
•Feedback mechanisms.
•Mechanisms of cell membrane transport.
•Intercellular signalling.
•Membrane potential.

ANIMAL HEALTH:
•Importance of animal health including the role of domestication, climate change, and the one health concept.
•Challenges to animal health including physical (e.g. fractures), metabolic (e.g. nutritional disorders), poisonous (e.g. plant toxins) and Infectious challenges (e.g. viruses).
•Prevention of infection:
-Husbandry strategies (Biosecurity)
-Innate animal protective strategies including cellular (e.g. role of the epithelial barrier), morphological (e.g. role of skin and scales), mechanical (e.g. peristalsis), biochemical (e.g. enzymes), and behavioural strategies (e.g. rejection of toxic food).
-Vaccines (types and mode of action).
•Antibiotic use (including antibiotic resistance) and alternative therapies.
•Zoonoses and notifiable diseases.
•The role of animal health in animal welfare.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture material provides the basic subject knowledge required by students to understand the underlying principles of animal physiology and animal health. The lecture material describes the specific role of various organ systems within the body and the mechanisms involved in these functions, with a practical on farm to reinforce the information delivered in lecture material (learning outcomes). This is followed by delivery of lecture material addressing physical, metabolic and infectious challenges and their management (learning outcomes). Group oral presentations and background reading help students to further develop their academic and professional skills (skill outcomes) and complement knowledge imparted via lecture material.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The MCQ examination assesses the knowledge and understanding of information delivered in lectures and the practical (learning outcomes) under time constraints. The group oral presentation allows an opportunity to assess students’ ability to convey topic-specific information (i.e. on an aspect of animal health) while working as part of a team. The students are also able to develop presentation skills for a non-specialist audience (skills outcome).