Program Overview

Module Overview

The module introduces students to the pathology of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems, including infectious disease agents that affect these systems. Students will learn about changes to these systems seen with disease or invasion by viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungal agents, presented in the context of One Health and underpinned with clinical case examples from various veterinary species.

Module Details

• Module Code: VMS2004
• Module Provider: School of Veterinary Medicine
• Module Leader: ALLEN David (Vet Med)
• Number of Credits: 15
• ECTS Credits: 7.5
• Framework: FHEQ Level 5
• Module Cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall Student Workload

• Independent Learning Hours: 76
• Lecture Hours: 27
• Tutorial Hours: 3
• Practical/Performance Hours: 7
• Guided Learning: 10
• Captured Content: 27

Module Availability

• Semester: 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

• None

Module Content

Taught Content

• Pathology of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems inflammatory, immune-mediated, toxic, inhalation injury, congenital disorders, degenerative
• Pathology of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems neoplasia
• Haemodynamic changes: haemorrhage, hyperaemia, congestion, infarct, and oedema
• Pathology of shock
• Congenital deformities of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems
• Pathology of cardiac failure, decompensation, and ascites
• Infectious pathogen transmission by aerosol and respiratory route
• Examples of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Rhodococcus equi, Bacillus anthracis
• Examples of Gram-positive bacterial pathogens of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: Mycobacterium spp.
• Examples of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: Pasteurellaceae
• Examples of Mollicutes bacterial pathogens of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: Mycoplasma spp.
• Example of mycotic pathogens of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: Aspergillus spp. and Mucor spp.
• Common parasites of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: Helminths (companion animal), life cycle, and environmental control
• Common parasites of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems: Helminths (large animals), life cycle, and environmental control
• Example of viral pathogens causing respiratory disease: Pathogenesis of Orthomyxoviridea (Influenza)
• Example of viral pathogens causing respiratory disease: Pathogenesis of Arterivirus (PRRSV)
• Example of viral pathogens causing respiratory disease: Pathogenesis of Paramyxoviridae
• Example of viral pathogens causing respiratory disease: Pathogenesis of Herpesviridae
• Host responses to injuries of the respiratory tract
• Abnormalities of lung inflation and circulation (atelectasia, emphysema, congestion)
• Pulmonary oedema, haemorrhage, and embolism
• Classification of pneumonias
• Pathology of the musculoskeletal system: inflammatory, immune-mediated, toxins, envenomations, congenital disorders, and disorders of growth, degenerative, nutritional disorders (hypovitaminosis D, hypovitaminosis C)
• Pathology of the musculoskeletal systems: neoplasia
• Parasites of the musculoskeletal system: inclusion cysts, Toxoplasma spp., Sarcocystis spp., Trichinella spp., and their effect on meat quality and public health
• Orthopaedic infections: the septic joint, the bite wound, the iatrogenic infection. Culturing for microbes from wounds
• Nutritional pathology, the pathobiochemistry of dietary imbalances: biochemical & nutritional basis of disease; the use of biochemical tests for screening, diagnosis, and management

Practicals

• Gross pathology and histopathology of the cardiovascular system: students will examine gross specimens, images, digital slides, angiography, echocardiographic images of valvular disorders, PDAs, real-time MRIs of wall thickness disorders
• Gross pathology and histopathology of the respiratory system (upper airway, lung): students will examine gross specimens, images, digital slides, and radiographs
• Gross pathology and histopathology of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, muscles): students will examine images, digital slides, CTs, MRIs specimens and images, ultrasound of tendons as a practical with tissue specimens
• Students will perform a post-mortem examination on a production animal

Assessment Pattern

Alternative Assessment

The alternative assessment for the practical report will involve the preparation of a reflective written report on an area related to the module.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• Practical skills in performing a post-mortem examination and examining, recognizing, describing, and interpreting pathological changes.
• Record writing ability and understanding and use of terminology
• Encourage teamwork and participation in group learning both in the practical sessions.
• Content knowledge of general pathology and infectious and non-infectious disease mechanisms

Module Aims

• Introduce the terminology of systemic cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems pathology based on aetiopathogenesis, and gross and microscopic appearance of non-infectious, infectious, and immune-mediated lesions.
• Increase the students' ability to recognize, describe, and interpret the abnormal and write a meaningful report of findings using the appropriate methods to record findings and images.

Learning Outcomes

Attributes Developed

• C - Cognitive/analytical
• K - Subject knowledge
• T - Transferable skills
• P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Provide infectious and non-infectious disease pathology in the context of One health, One medicine
• Allow students to develop skills in performing a post-mortem examination, examining specimens, describing, and interpreting them.
• Provide students with the skills to record pathological findings using appropriate terminology

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures, flipped classroom, small group sessions, practical classes using microscopy and anatomic pathology specimens, images

Reading List

Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: VMS2004

Other Information

The Surrey Framework consists of the attributes: employability, global and cultural capabilities, digital capabilities, sustainability, and resourcefulness and resilience. This module includes the following key topics which further develop one or more of the attributes as indicated:

• Digital capabilities: Students will use digital aids to investigate the systems presented in this module. The lecture materials will be accessible online, and PollEverywhere will be used during real-time teaching.
• Employability: Students will develop the basis of their veterinary knowledge and important aspects of pathology in this module. The practical sessions will additionally provide hands-on experience.
• Global and cultural capabilities: Many of the diseases discussed in this module have a global impact and are of extreme importance in both developing and developed worlds.

Programmes this Module Appears In