Mastitis Management and Prevention

A.Y. 2024/2025
3
Max ECTS
32
Overall hours
SSD
VET/05
Language
English
Learning objectives
Scopo dell'insegnamento è formare lo studente sulle metodiche di campo e di laboratorio utilizzate per il controllo delle mastiti dei ruminanti, approfondendo gli aspetti relativi alle tecnologie emergenti per il monitoraggio delle mastiti e ai metodi tradizionali e innovativi per l'identificazione e la caratterizzazione degli agenti eziologici, con un accenno alle strategie di prevenzione e ai metodi terapeutici alternativi agli antibiotici.
Expected learning outcomes
Al termine del corso lo studente avrà una visione aggiornata e consapevole delle tecnologie e dei metodi utilizzabili per rilevare, monitorare e controllare le mastiti e le infezioni intramammarie dei ruminanti da latte. Acquisirà inoltre competenze e capacità analitiche ed espositive su argomenti pertinenti alle tematiche del corso.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Lectures:
- Basic concepts on infection and inflammation of the udder (2 hours)
- Main pathogens causing mastitis (2 hours)
- Classic laboratory diagnostic approaches: bacteriological culture of milk in the laboratory and on the farm (2 hours)
- Molecular diagnostic approaches: PCR and qPCR on milk (2 hours)
- Epidemiology of etiological agents in northern Italy (2 hours)
- Mastitis and antibiotic resistance: current status in northern Italy (2 hours)
- Techniques for the molecular characterization of microorganisms causing mastitis (2 hours)
- Innovations in laboratory and field diagnostics (2 hours)

Practicals:
- Laboratory techniques for the detection of mastitis pathogens: practical activities (6 hours)
- Visits to dairy farms: critical analysis of the management aspects involved in the onset of mastitis and targeted approaches for managing different types of etiological agents (10 hours)
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of microbiology, immunology, and hygiene. The course will be held in the English language.
Teaching methods
- Classroom lectures
- Laboratory practicals
- Farm practicals
- Flipped classroom presentations
Teaching Resources
The lecture contents will be available on the Ariel course website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test based on the oral presentation of a scientific publication on the subject assigned by the teachers, followed by a short interview aimed at assessing the knowledge of the subject, built upon the material provided on the course Ariel website.
- Method of the test: Presentation of an article in English.
- Type of test: Oral with the help of slides
- Duration of the test: The time given for the presentation is 10 minutes followed by a short interview (5 min) aimed at assessing the understanding of the topics covered during the course.
- Evaluation parameters: ability to discursively organize knowledge; critical reasoning skills on the study presented; quality of presentation, competence in the use of specialized vocabulary in English
- Type of evaluation used: grade out of thirty
- The results of the test will be communicated by e-mail
- Non-attending students may choose to take a 15-minute oral exam to assess their understanding of the topics covered during the course and their competence in using specialized vocabulary in English.
VET/05 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS - University credits: 3
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 16 hours
Shifts:
Turno
Professors: Addis Maria Filippa, Moroni Paolo