Program Overview

AVBS3001: Agents of Disease

Overview

The aim of this unit is to examine and appreciate the diversity of various disease-causing agents (microbiological and parasitological) of significance to animal industries and the various strategies employed by those agents in the host-pathogen-environment interaction.

Unit Details

• Study level: Undergraduate
• Academic unit: Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
• Credit points: 6

Enrolment Rules

• Prerequisites: AVBS2001
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: None
• Assumed knowledge: None

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

• Recognise, describe and name the common infectious disease-causing agents that impact the animal/veterinary industry
• Explain the significance and interplay of the host-pathogen-environment- interaction (HPEI) in disease manifestation and animal production outcomes
• Recognise the behavioural, pathological and productivity signs associated with given agents of disease
• Know and perform the methods, tests and sampling strategies (including sampling and transport) which underpin the diagnosis of an infectious disease
• Examine HPEI and apply these interactions in disease control and prevention strategies
• Examine the various issues related to zoonoses, chemical treatment and food safety that affect handling and treatments for infectious agents
• Employ the most recent information from literature to evaluate and assess new diagnostic techniques, therapeutics and management strategies to combat infectious disease in farmed and wild animal populations.

Unit Availability

This unit is available in the following sessions:

• Semester 1 2025: Normal day, Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
• Semester 1 2026: Normal day, Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
• Previous years: Various sessions and locations available.