VET TECH 2525RW - Biosecurity, Epidemiology and Food Safety for Veterinary Technologists
Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2024
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code VET TECH 2525RW Course Biosecurity, Epidemiology and Food Safety for Veterinary Technologists Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s Roseworthy Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 7 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites VET TECH 1030RW Restrictions Available to Bachelor of Veterinary Technology students only Assessment Quizzes, group presentation and final examination Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Kapil Chousalkar
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students should be able to: 1 Describe the presence and progression of a disease in an animal population. 2 Understand the principles of disease surveillance and outbreak investigations. 3 Describe the principles of diagnosis and management of diseases in animal populations. 4 Outline the principles of biosecurity and apply disease control measures. 5 Explain the relationship between animal health, food hygiene and human food safety. University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
2, 3, 5 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4, 5 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
4, 5 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Teaching and Learning Modes
One lecture of 1 hr on Wednesday every week during the semester.
Two lectures, each of 1 hr on Thursday every week during the semester.
One practical of 4 to 4.5 hr on Friday every week during the semester.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in this 3 unit course of undergraduate level should expect to spend 150 hours successfully completing the course. This time period includes both contact (e.g. attending lectures and practicals) and non-contact time (self-study).Learning Activities Summary
As the name indicates, this course covers the main aspects of biosecurity, epidemiology and food safety at a medium level difficulty for Veterinary Technologists. The course covers general biosecurity principles and then focuses on more depth analysis where animal species specific differences occur. Therefore, endemic, zoonotic, emerging and notifiable diseases are covered at a level appropriate for Veterinary Technologists. The food safety aspect of the course covers pathogens that transmit to human food chain via the meat, milk and eggs.
The lectures cover the below topics:
- Introduction to biosecurity
- Biosecurity organisation
- Disease control strategies
- Biosecurity in small animal practice
- Introduction to veterinary epidemiology
- Evaluation of diagnostic tests
- Animal health and surveillance
- Emerging and notifiable diseases (excluding small animal diseases)
- Small animal endemic diseases
- Small animal notifiable and endemic diseases
- Endemic diseases other than covered in small animal endemic diseases
- Measures of disease frequency and association
- One Health- introduction and importance
- One Health – zoonotic diseases
- Importance of personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Principles of biosecurity in equine disease control
- Equine diseases of importance
- Disinfectants, their properties and use in animal hospitals
- Poultry diseases (bacterial, viral and parasitic) and diagnostics
- Epidemiology, biosecurity and food security for aquaculture
- Antimicrobial resistance – a One Health issue
- Development of antibiotic resistance and strategies to minimise it
- Production animal cases and role of biosecurity
- Role of biosecurity in pig industry and how to maximise productivity
- Milk quality and spoilage microorganisms
- Risk analysis and its application to food safety
- Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) of Salmonella in meat
- Importance of food safety
- Biosecurity in field conditions
- Small animal workshop- a real field scenario
- Exotic disease practical
- PPE and biosecurity zone
- Biosecurity workshop in equine hospital settings
- Egg quality and food safety
- Epidemiology workshop - real field scenario
- Biosecurity in aquaculture
- Ruminants workshop
- Swine workshop
- Mik microbiology practical
- Group presentations
Specific Course Requirements
Attendance at all workshops and practical classes and completion of workshop activities is compulsory. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Hurdle
Yes/NoLearning Outcome Approximate timing of assessment Workshop/attendance Formative, summative 0% Yes 2, 3, 4 Weeks 1 to 10 Quiz 1 Formative, summative 10% No 1, 2 Week 3 to 4 Quiz 2 Formative, summative 10% No 2, 3 Week 6 to 7 Group Presentation Formative, summative 20% No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Week 8 to 10 Final exam Summative 60% Yes 3, 4, 5 End of Semester Examination Period Assessment Related Requirements
Assessment Task with hurdle % needed to meet hurdle requirement Is additional assessment available if hurdle not meet? Type of additional assessment if available Final exam 50% Yes Additional written examination Practical class/workshop attendance and participation is compulsory 90% Yes Practicals which are missed due to unavoidable circumstances, for which documented evidence is provided, may be replaced with additional activities. Assessment Detail
Quiz 1 (10%)
After first three weeks, students will be tested on their familiarity with the disease diagnosis principles and approaches described and used in the first lectures and workshops. The in-class quiz will be for 30 mins with multiple-choice and/or short answer type questions.
Quiz 2 (10%)
After a further three weeks, students will be tested on their ability to apply principles of biosecurity. The in-class quiz will be for 30 mins with multiple-choice and/or short answer type questions.
Group Presentation (20%)
Each group will be assigned with a topic to present. Each group (up to 6 students in each group) will present at the session. Each presentation will be marked by teacher/s. Each group will provide 15 min presentation followed by 5 mins of question time.
Theory Exam (60%)
The final written theory exam of two hours duration will examine all components of the course. It will consist of multiple choice, short answer or long answer questions.Submission
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted, then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
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- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
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- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
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- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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