VET TECH 2525RW - Biosecurity, Epidemiology and Food Safety for Veterinary Technologists

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2022

Veterinary epidemiology is the scientific discipline which provides the tools to improve and maintain the health and welfare of animals by taking a 'population approach' to disease control. Investigating, understanding, measuring and reporting the way that diseases persist and spread in populations are the first steps to reducing, controlling or eliminating the risk of ill health. All of these activities constitute the strategies used by epidemiologists to protect animal and human populations from the effects of uncontrolled diseases. Consequently, epidemiologists are the leaders of scientific teams responsible for local, regional, national or global biosecurity and for managing responses to disease outbreaks. This course will provide the student of animal health management with the basic tools and skills to embark on a career dedicated to improving animal health and welfare and to the protection of the health and economies of human societies by taking a population approach to understanding the existence and persistence of disease. Veterinary Public Health embraces the diagnosis, surveillance, epidemiology, control, prevention and elimination of zoonoses and of diseases that threaten food security and social cohesion; protection of food (including meat and milk) for human consumption; food and meat science; environmental protection; animal welfare standards; and the social, behavioural and mental aspects of human-animal relationships. Veterinary Biosecurity is intrinsically linked to Veterinary Public Health and covers specific aspects on disease prevention, disease surveillance at the national, regional, state and enterprise (farm) level and include notifiable, zoonotic, emergency animal and transboundary diseases.

  • 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: Dr Samiullah Khan

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    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.

    4
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops addressing:
    • The history, scope and practice of medical and veterinary epidemiology
    • Agent-host-environment factors in disease causation
    • The descriptive terminology used in infectious disease epidemiology
    • Disease patterns, disease causation, disease control and detection
    • Causation inference
    • Measures of Association and Effect
    • Quantitative epidemiology: incidence, prevalence, survival, strength of association,risk factors, morbidity, mortality, disease ecology
    • Understanding the principles of various diagnostic tests
    • One Health/Planetary Health concepts
    • Veterinary public health, zoonotic disease and food safety.
    • Principles of disease response & control, surveillance, outbreak investigation, disease risk analysis 
    • Concepts of and clinical presentations of notifiable diseases, emergency animal and transboundary diseases
    • Concepts of Pre border, Border and Post border biosecurity
    • International trade and disease control (role of OIE, FAO, impact of World Trade Organisation etc)
    • Australian agencies responsible for animal and human health protection.
    • Important animal diseases exotic to Australia and the AUSVET/AQUAVET plans.
    • Principles of Enterprises Biosecurity manuals (e.g. farms, kennels, zoos) including principles of hazard analysis, critical-control points, bio-exclusion and bio-containment
    • PPE principles, hygiene, cleanliness, disinfection use
    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:

    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
    Yes/No
    Learning 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.

  • 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.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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