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Unit of study_
VETS6204: Principles of Animal Disease A
2026 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. 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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(VETS6231 and VETS6235 and VETS6203) or (VETS6201 and 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. Apply clinical reasoning by integrating understanding of normal development, structure and function with pathological processes and clinical information to investigate and diagnose disease.
- LO2. Apply an understanding of infectious and non-infectious agents of disease and their pathogenic effects, and host-agent of disease-environment interactions to evaluate, formulate differential diagnoses and plan management of diseases affecting individual animals and animal populations.
- LO3. Construct a plan for appropriate ante-mortem and post-mortem collection, storage and transport of biological specimens to diagnose disease.
- LO4. Recognise zoonotic, transboundary and emergency animal diseases, and outline an appropriate initial response to promote the health and safety of people, animals and the environment.
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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