VET SC 3515RW - Veterinary Parasitology

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2019

This course will cover the scientific discipline of veterinary parasitology and the relationship between parasites and disease at the tissue and animal level in various animal hosts and body systems. The course will provide students with the theoretical and practical skills required in veterinary parasitology, including the diagnosis, control and treatment of common parasite diseases, including zoonoses.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET SC 3515RW
    Course Veterinary Parasitology
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible VET SC 3513RW
    Assumed Knowledge VET SC 3512RW
    Restrictions Available to BSc (Veterinary Bioscience) students only
    Assessment Written exams, practical core competencies log book
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Ryan O'Handley

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Knowledge of the terminology, basic principles and application of veterinary parasitology

    2 Competency in the core components of diagnostic parasitology
    3 Competency in practical laboratory skills
    4 Knowledge and application of parasite control and treatment methodologies
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1-4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1-4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-4
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Internal:  3 lectures and 3 hours of practical will be given each week.

    External: Students will receive comprehensive lecture notes in veterinary parasitology and readings on specific topics from parasitology journals.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g.,
    lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Lectures
    Introduction to Parasitology
    Protozoa
    Helminths
    Companion animal parasite control
    Ectoparasites
    Aquaculture Parasites
    Wildlife parasites

    Practicals
    Introduction to diagnostics (Dx)
    Companion animal Dx
    Protozoa
    Large animal Dx
    Faecal egg count / Larval culture
    Sedimentation and Other Tests
    Arthropods
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting HURDLE Learning Outcome
    Mid Semester Quizzes Formative

    Summative
    20% No 1,4
    Final Exam Summative 50% Yes 1,4
    Practical core competencies log book Formative

    Summative
    30% Yes 2,3
    An exemption to the hurdle requirements of the Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy has been approved by the Faculty of Sciences for 2018.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    HURDLES: To pass this course students must

    1. Attain a minimum of 50% in the Final Exam
    ·   Students that do not attain this hurdle may be provided with an additional piece of assessment.


    2.  Complete all components of the practical core competencies log book
    ·    Students that do not complete all components will be required to sit a practical examination consisting of the failed competencies and must pass all.

     

    Assessment Detail
    Mid semester quizzes (20% of the final grade):  2 quizzes (10% each) will be given to students following the protozoa and helminth sections of the course respectively.  These quizzes will assess students for the material in these major sections and allow for feedback to students regarding their progress and level of understanding. 

    End of semester final exam (50% of the final grade):  At the end of semester, a comprehensive final
    exam will be given.  This exam will be 3 hours in length and consist of multiple choice, short answer and long answer type questions.  It will assess all aspects of veterinary parasitology taught in the course.

    Practical core competencies log book (30% of the final grade):  During the practical session, students will be evaluated individually on their competency in the core components of diagnostic parasitology.  For example, students must be able to identify specific parasites in faecal samples, with an explanation of how they know it is a particular species. Students will keep a log book detailing the core competencies and will be signed by the instructor once the student is competent in the core component. Students must pass all 12 core competencies within the practical sessions. Each competency is marked on a Pass/Fail basis only – students are able to repeat competencies without penalty in practical classes until they achieve a Pass grade. If a student has all competencies signed off by the end of the last practical, they will achieve the full 30% for the component. Students that do not pass all competencies will then sit a practical exam which is based around the core competencies that were not obtained in the practical sessions to attain the final mark of 30.
    Submission
    Late Submission

    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A mark of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.
    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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    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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