Medicine, Surgery and Genetic Disorders of Domestic Animals

A.Y. 2024/2025
11
Max ECTS
88
Overall hours
SSD
AGR/17 VET/08 VET/09
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the students with knowledge regarding the main dysfunctions and pathologies in Veterinary Medicine in the different domestic species. Particularly, it aims at understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms, underlying the main diseases affecting the various systems both in internal medicine and surgery, pointing out: etiology, inherited diseases, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations.
Expected learning outcomes
1- Knowledge and understanding:
The student will have to demonstrate knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of diseases epidemiologically of interest in the different domestic species.
2- Appling knowledge and understanding:
The student must demonstrate that he / she is able to apply the acquired knowledge to correctly frame both the pathologies related to the internal medicine and surgery. Furthermore, he / she must demonstrate that he / she can independently conduct an online bibliographic research, recognize and apply the different types of studies in the right contexts.
3- Making judgment:
The student must be able to deal critically and proactively with the study of the subject, both as regards the informations present on the material provided by the teacher and on that reported in the recommended texts. It will also be able to identify the most credible sources of scientific information.
4- Communication:
the student must be able to expose the information acquired with an appropriate terminology, updated and consistent with the terminology used in the other disciplines.
5- Life long learning skills:
The student should demonstrate ability in acquiring the sources necessary for continuing education: databases, texts and specialized journals.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
First semester
Prerequisites for admission
Students should have successfully passed the following exams:
· General zootechnics and genetic improvement
· Animal husbandry
· Companion animal and equine breeding
· Veterinary anatomic pathologic II
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final evaluation will consist of a written test and an interview
Written test:
The examination is based on 77 multiple choice questions (4 answers, of which only one is correct) divided as follows:
14 questions for the genetics of domestic animal diseases module
14 questions for the Canine and Feline Medical Pathology module
14 questions for the Farm Animal Medical Pathology module
14 questions for the Equine Medical Pathology module
21 questions for the veterinary surgical pathology module
Each question will correspond to 0.38 points.
The candidate must correctly answer at least 50% of the questions relating to each module to pass the test. The evaluation of the written test is based on a 30 points system. The achievement of the score of 18/30 is judged as sufficient .
The written exam will last 2 hours. An IT platform of the University will be used for this purpose. The test will take place in the IT laboratories in Lodi.
Oral test:
The candidate will have access to the interview only after passing the written test.
The interview will verify the communicative ability of the candidate who will have to present one of the topics included in the program of the integrated course using a language appropriate to the profession. The evaluation of the interview will be expressed out of thirty, and will be judged sufficient with the achievement of the score of 18/30.
Failure to pass the interview will imply the repetition of the entire exam.
The weighted sum of the written test (50%) and the oral test (50%) will constitute the final score.
Mechanisms of disease in veterinary surgery
Course syllabus
Introduction to the course
· Definitions and study material
· Organization of teaching
1 hr

· Wounds, sores, ulcers, fistulas
· Pathologies of wound healing
2 hrs


Paratopias
· External hernias (umbilical, inguinal, perineal)
· Internal hernias (diaphragmatic)
· Displacements
3 hrs

· Shock
1 hr

· Compression, contusion,
· Ruptures
· Fracture
· Fracture healing
2 hrs

· Oteoartritys
· osteochondrosis
· luxation

3 hrs
· Osteomyelitis
· Enostosi
· Metaphyseal osteopathy
· Bone tumors
3 hrs

· Hip dysplasia
· Elbow dysplasia
· Knee dysplasia
4 hrs

· Teniti
· RCC
· Physeal pathologies
3hrs

· Hernias and prolapse
· Cervical spondylomyelopathy
· Lumbosacral stenosis
3 hrs
Teaching methods
Lectures are held in classroom with the help of slides and direct access to the archive of clinical cases of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Students are invited to actively participate in the lesson on the basis of the knowledge acquired in the propedeutic subjects. In the lectures (3 credits - 24 hours) the student will receive informations regarding the description of the pathological aspects and the pathogenetic basis of the main surgical diseases of the small animals, horse and cattle.
Teaching Resources
TESTBOOKS
1)Bojrab,M.J.: Le Basi Patogenetiche delle Malattie chirurgiche nei Piccoli Animali.Cristiano Giraldi Editore, 2001, San Lazzaro di Savena-Bologna.
2)Micheletto,B.:Patologia Chirurgica Veterinaria e Podologia,U.T.E.T.1980,Torino.
3)Mortellaro, C.M.; Petazzoni, M., Vezzoni, A.: Atlante BOA ( Breed-oriented Orthopaedic Approach). Approccio ortopedico orientato alla razza. Edizione INNOVET , 2008.

OTHER MATHERIALS
https://pc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/frm3/ThreadList.aspx?name=contenuti
Diseases mechanisms in dog and cat
Course syllabus
HAEMATOPOIETIC DISORDERS (2 hours)
- red blood cells
- white blood cells
- coagulation disorders

GASTROENTERIC DISORDERS (3 hours)
- gastritis
- disorders of the small and large intestine
- hepatitis, cholangitis and cholangiohepatitis
- pancreatitis
- exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

URINARY DISORDERS (3 hours)
- chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- acute kidney injury (AKI)
- urinary tract infections
- feline idiopathic cystitis
- urolithiasis

ENDOCRINE DISORDERS (3 hours)
- diabetes mellitus
- insulinoma
- hyperadrenocorticism
- hypoadrenocorticism
- hyperthyroidism
- hypothyroidism

CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS (2 hours)
- arrhythmias
- valvular diseases
- cardiomyopathy
- diseases of the endocardium and pericardium

RESPIRATORY DISORDERS (2 hour)
-Feline lower airways disease (FLAD)
-Broncopneumopaties in dogs
-Pneumonitis
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures (2 credits - 16 hours) are held in classroom with the help of slides, video and direct access to the archive of clinical cases of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Learning will be constantly assessed through questions and appropriate interaction. The use of alternative teaching methods could be used (e.g. flipped classroom, Kahoot sessions or other)
Teaching Resources
Didactic supports will be available on Ariel-
Suggested Readings:
NELSON R:W:- COUTO C:G:
Small Animal Internal Medicine- Elsevier
STOCKHAM SL, SCOTT MA.:
Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. II ed, Blackwell Publishing
VETERINARY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA, Small Animal Practice
Mechanisms of disease in equine medicine
Course syllabus
Upper airway dynamic obstructions (2 hours)
- Pharyngeal collapse
- Laringeal collapse
- Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP)
- Rostral displacement of the palotopharyngeal arch
- Axial displacement of the aryepiglottic folds
- Epiglottic entrapment
- Epiglottic retroversion
Guttural pouch and nasal cavity disorders (1 hour)
- Progressive ethmoid haematoma (PEH)
- Guttural pouch mycosis
- Guttural pouch empyema
- Guttural pouch tympanism
Pulmonary disorders (2 hours)
- Moderate equine asthma (IAD/MeA)
- Severe equine asthma (RAO/SeA)
- Exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH)
- Pneumonia and pleuropneumonia
- Pulmonary oedema
- Interstitial pneumonia
Cardiac and blood disorders (2 hours)
- Cardiac arrythmias
- Valvular disorders
- Anaemia
- Leukaemia and Lymphoma
- Coagulopahties (Purpura haemorragica)
Digestive system disorders (2 hours)
- Esophageal obstruction
- Equine gastric squamous disorder (EGSD)
- Equine gastric glandular disorder (EGGD)
- Infiltrative bowel disorders (IBD)
- Constipation
- Enterocolitis
Muscoloskeletal disorders (2 ore)
- Equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM)
- Exertional rhabdomyolisis
- Atipic myopathy
- Laminitis
Neurologic disorders (2 ore)
- Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND)
- Equine grass sickness (EGS)
- Botulism
- Encephalomyelitis (West Nile Disease, Herpesvirus infection, Viral encephalitis)
- Peripheral neuropathies (Facial nerve paralysis, Vestibular syndrome)
Skin disorders (1 hour)
- Cutaneous hypersensitivity (Urticaria, Insect bite hypersensitivity)
- Nodular skin disorders and skin tumors (Eosinophilic collagenolytic granuloma, Equine sarcoid, Cutaneous lymphoma, Fibroma)
- Immune skin disorders (Pemphigus foliaceus, Erythema multiforme)
Endocrine and metabolic disorders (1 hour)
- Pituitary pars intermedia disfunction, PPID (Equine cushing)
- Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)
- Hyperlipaemia
- Hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis
Endotoxaemia (1 hour)
Teaching methods
The lectures (2 CFU - 16 hours) will be carried out with the help of slides, videos and images. During the lessons, the learning will be constantly verified through appropriate interaction between teacher and students.
Teaching Resources
Reed, Bayly & Sellon: Equine Internal Medicine (3 ed), Saunders, Philadelphia
Sellon & Long: Equine infectious diseases (2 ed.), Saunders, Philadelphia
Walton RM: Equine Clinical Pathology, Wiley Blackwell, Iowa, USA 2014
ALTRI RIFERIMENTI BIBLIOGRAFICI (PERIODICI)/OTHER REFERENCES (Journals and periodicals)
Veterinary Clinics of North America, Equine Practice
Equine Veterinary Journal
Equine Veterinary Education
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Disease mechanisms in farm animal internal medicine
Course syllabus
- Generalities of the pathogenetic basis of the most common medical conditions managed in farm animal internal medicine (1 hour)
- Pathological mechanisms of the most critical metabolic diseases (6 hours): ketosis, fat cow syndrome, fatty liver, insulin-resistant diabetes during the transition period, milk fever, strong ion difference and Stewart's physicochemical approach to acid-base status.
- Pathological mechanisms of the digestive system (6 hours): etiopathogenesis of sub-acute ruminal acidosis, the etiopathogenesis of ruminal indigestions and tympany, traumatic reticulo-peritonitis, the pathophysiology of the abomasal displacements of dairy cattle, the etiopathogenesis of abomasitis and abomasal ulceration, the pathophysiology of enterotoxaemia.
- Pathological mechanisms of the umbilical disorders in young ruminants (1 hour): pathophysiology of omphalitis, omphalophlebitis, urachus infection, and omphaloarteritis.
- Pathological mechanisms of the most important disease of the central and peripheral nervous system (2 hour): meningitis, polioencephalomalacia, bacterial and viral encephalitis, lentivirus encephalitis in small ruminants, the pathophysiology of traumatic lesions of peripheral nerves.
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures (2 CFU - 16 hours).
The lectures will be carried out with the help of slides or videos. The learning will be constantly verified during the lessons through questions and appropriate interaction between the teacher and students.
Teaching Resources
TEXTBOOKS
- Dirksen G, Gründer HD, Stöber M (2004). Medicina interna e chirurgia del bovino. Le point Vétérinaire Italie, Milano.
- Smith B. Van Metre D. Pusterla N. Large animal internal medicine. Sixth edition. Elsevier, St. Louis 2019.
- Constable PD, Hinchcliff KW, Done SH, Grünberg W: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs and Goats. 11th ed. Edinburgh, UK: W.B. Saunders, 2017:845-1090.
- Pugh DF, Baird AN (2012). Sheep and goat medicine. 2nd edition. Elsevier Saunders, Riverport Lane.
- Zimmerman JJ (2012). Diseases of swine. 10th edition. Wiley-Blackwell.

RIVISTE, JOURNALS
- Veterinary Clinics of North America, Food Animal Practice
- Large Animal Review
- The Veterinary Journal
- Preventive veterinary medicine
- Livestock Science
- Journal of Dairy Science
Genetic disease in domestic animals
Course syllabus
The course will focus on inherited diseases that affect domestic animals (dog, cat, horse, food animals) with particular reference to molecular genetic diagnostic procedures available at the main international laboratories. An excursus will be dedicated to the prevention of hereditary pathologies through breeding plans management in order to set new selective plans for the eradication of the inherited disorders of the domestic animal populations.
The aim of the course it to provide the foundations of mendelian and molecular genetics concerning the main inherited animal diseases. The course will also provide a basic knowledge of multifactorial inheritance. This knowledge is fundamental to the understanding of the concepts related to the molecular mechanisms at the base of genetic pathologies

Topics covered (2 credits - 16 hours):
1. The study of the main hereditary diseases of domestic animal (dog, cat, horse, food animals) (5 hours)
- functioning of genes
- transcription and gene expression
- hereditary transmission
- knowledge of the genetic epidemiology of a breed
2. Genes that control hereditary diseases (9 hours)
- genetic tests that are available and their application
3. Bioinformatics elements (2 hours)
- access to molecular biology databases for the study of the genes involved in hereditary diseases of domestic animals (dog, cat, horse, food animals)
Teaching methods
The lectures will be held at the university classrooms with the help of slides, videos and images
Teaching Resources
Text: "Genetica animale e applicazioni zootecniche e veterinarie" Casa Editrice Ambrosiana Prof. Giulio Pagnacco
· Online materials available on Ariel website
Disease mechanisms in farm animal internal medicine
VET/08 - VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE - University credits: 2
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Boccardo Antonio
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Boccardo Antonio
Diseases mechanisms in dog and cat
VET/08 - VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE - University credits: 2
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Scarpa Paola
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Scarpa Paola
Genetic disease in domestic animals
AGR/17 - LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS, ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS - University credits: 2
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Polli Michele
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Polli Michele
Mechanisms of disease in equine medicine
VET/08 - VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE - University credits: 2
Lessons: 16 hours
Professor: Ferrucci Francesco
Shifts:
Turno
Professor: Ferrucci Francesco
Mechanisms of disease in veterinary surgery
VET/09 - VETERINARY CLINICAL SURGERY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 24 hours
Shifts: