Principles of Hygiene and Prevention of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Unconventional Pets

The course aims to provide basic knowledge on the hygiene and prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases of the most common non-conventional animals as pets (reptiles, birds and ornamental fish, rodents and lagomorphs) in order to understand and prevent the potential risk of diffusion of pathologies that they may represent for the animals themselves and for humans as they are potential agents of infectious and parasitic diseases, including zoonotic ones. Another objective of the course is to provide the student with the notions on management and operational strategies that allow the control and prevention of the transmission of diseases in non-conventional animals in the context of farms, temporary shelter structures ("guesthouses") and in those in the medical-veterinary field.

1. Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate that he has acquired basic knowledge on the hygiene, prevention, and control of infectious diseases of non-conventional animals most commonly used as pets, as well as the related laboratory techniques useful for monitoring these diseases.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: the student must demonstrate knowledge and concepts useful for the identification of infectious diseases in the species treated during the course. He/she will have to demonstrate that he/she knows how to apply biosafety rules for the prevention of these diseases and will be able to apply monitoring plans.
3. Making judgments: the student must demonstrate the ability to critically argue the information acquired. The specific practical activities on the identification, monitoring and prevention of infectious diseases are aimed in this direction.
4. Communication: the student must demonstrate the ability to express him/herself with scientifically appropriate terminology, in particular with regard to the terminology referring to infectious diseases of the species covered by the course. Practical activities are intended to stimulate the ability to express oneself correctly and the ability to discuss scientifically with peers.
5. Lifelong learning skills: the student must demonstrate the ability to use the knowledge acquired to interpret new situations or aspects of which he/she has not had direct experience in the field of monitoring and control of infectious diseases, for instance, searching scientific databases and critically organising new information.