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Unit of study_
VETS6204: Principles of Animal Disease A
2025 unit information
A fundamental understanding of disease and dysfunction is critical to applying principles of preventative and therapeutic interventions in veterinary practice. This unit of study provides a thorough grounding in knowledge and skills for a wide range of veterinary disciplines including veterinary pathology, veterinary clinical pathology, immunology, veterinary microbiology, veterinary parasitology, animal behaviour, veterinary pharmacology and veterinary diagnostic imaging. An integrated multi-disciplinary approach will highlight the underlying pathophysiology and aetiopathogenesis of clinical and subclinical disease affecting several major body systems. This unit will emphasise a pathobiological approach to investigations providing a logical diagnostic framework to facilitate students' understanding of disease and disease investigation. This unit of study will utilise scenarios from companion animals, production animals and wildlife to contextualise problems involving haematology, disorders of growth, dermatopathology, gastrointestinal pathology, urinary system pathology and endocrine system pathology as well as behavioural manifestations during disease. The use of case-based scenarios will motivate and direct students to develop the concepts and principles underscoring therapeutics and disease control and management programs. The unit provides the foundation for integrated parasite/pest management (IPM) strategies. In addition, vector-, water- and food- borne diseases and transboundary diseases will be included enabling students to understand their relevance to the human-animal bond, public health, trade and biosecurity. Reinforcing the development and maintenance of normal structure and function will highlight abnormalities associated with specific clinical presentations and disease entities. This unit of study integrates with the concepts and skills taught within VETS6203 (Research and Enquiry 2A) and VETS6202 (Professional skills 2A) to prepare students for the clinical units of study in DVM 3. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses. Vaccination against Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is an inherent requirement for students enrolling in this unit of study. Students must be vaccinated against Q fever before commencing the unit or no later than week two of the enrolled teaching session. Q fever vaccination is only available in Australia with the vaccination process taking three weeks to complete. Students must also submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration upon enrolment. Students who fail to receive vaccination by the specified deadline and/or submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration are precluded from practical learning activities and will not be able to satisfactorily complete relevant units of study and/or progress in their course more generally. Please refer to the University’s website https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/q-fever-vaccinations.html for more information on student vaccinations.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | School of Veterinary Science Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 12 |
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Prerequisites:
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(VETS6101 and VETS6102 and VETS6103 and VETS6104 and VETS6105 and VETS6106 and VETS6107 and VETS6108) or (VETS6104 and VETS6108 and VETS6111 and VETS6113 and VETS6115 and VETS6116) |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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VETS6202 and VETS6203 |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Content of all DVM Year 1 units of study |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. integrate their knowledge of the normal development of body systems, the microscopic, gross and diagnostic imaging appearance of disease, general pathological processes and likely pathogenesis, particularly the principles of inflammation, repair, circulatory disturbances and abnormalities of growth (including neoplasia) and apply these concepts to disease investigation
- LO2. apply the concepts of embryology, pathophysiology, host immune response and the properties of common agents of disease (including parasitic, fungal, bacterial and viral) affecting growth and development and the major body systems, into investigative and prognostic frameworks
- LO3. integrate the important features of agents of disease and their pathogenic effects to identify and discuss key diseases and syndromes affecting individuals and populations
- LO4. apply an understanding of host-pathogen-environment interactions, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to important diseases of domesticated animals and wildlife to formulate rational therapeutic, preventative and management strategies
- LO5. integrate an understanding of normal development and biological fitness, abnormal behaviours and compromised welfare, and consider these within diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
- LO6. plan appropriate collection, storage and dispatch of biological specimens to diagnose disease. This includes ante-mortem samples taken in the clinic and necropsy samples
- LO7. utilise the principles and concepts in pathobiology, epidemiology, pharmacology and animal behaviour to direct therapeutic or management interventions for endemic and transboundary diseases, including zoonoses.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
