VET SC 3515RW - Veterinary Parasitology

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

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 N
    Incompatible VET SC 3513RW, ANIML SC 3515RW
    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)

    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.

    1-4

    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.

    1-4

    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.

    1-4

    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.

    1-4

    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.

    1-4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    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 Weighting HURDLE Learning Outcome
    Practical core competencies log book Formative
    Summative
    10% Yes 2,3
    Mid Semester Quizzes Summative 20% No 1,4
    Creative Work in Parasitology Summative 20% No 1,2,3,4
    Final Exam Summative 50% Yes 1,4
    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
    Practical core competencies log book (10% 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 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 10% 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 10.

    Mid Term Written Exam (20% of the final grade):  A 1 hour exam will be given during week 5 of the course .  The exam will assess students for the material learned in weeks 1-4 and provide feedback to students regarding their progress and level of understanding.

    Creative Work in Parasitology (20% of the final grade): Students will create a work that deals with a specific topic in parasitology.  This can be a written work, work of art, short film, song (anything creative) on a parasitic disease or concept.  This work is due in week 9.

    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.
    Submission
    Late Submission
    Late submission for the Creative Work will incur a 10% reduction per day.
    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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