Veterinary Pathology
INFORMATION FOR THE THIRD YEAR COURSE IN
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
ACADEMIC YEAR 2005/2006
PLEASE NOTE
Items contained within this Course Information Document are sometimes unavoidably subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the correct lecture, practical, tutorial and examination schedules. Lecture venues may be changed during the Course. The Year Notice boards and email should be checked daily.
In light of student feedback and External Examiner comments the following changes have been made:
Code of Professional Conduct to Fitness to Practice. You are reminded that you will be expected to have read the above code, sign for it and implemented during your time in the course
CONTENTSPage No
1.Place of the Course in the BVMS Degree Curriculum 1
2.Aims of the Course. 1
3.Learning Objectives of the Course. 1
4.Components of the Course (4.1 - 4.26) 2-13
5.Course Content 14
6.Course Texts, Required Reading and web resources 14
7.Teaching Hours and Teaching Methods 15
8.Methods of Assessment
8.1Assessment of Student Learning 15
8.2Assessment & Exams 17
8.3 Marks to Grade Correlation 19
8.4The External Examiner 20
8.5Prizes which will be given for Work during the Course 20
9.Departmental Instruction 21
10.Other Important Information
10.1Protective Clothing, Health & Safety 21
10.2Staff and Student Liaison 21
10.3Staff 22
10.4Timetables
Veterinary Pathology Term 1 23
Veterinary Pathology Term II 24
Veterinary Pathology Term III 25
11. Example of Degree Examination Papers 26-36
1
Veterinary Pathology
INFORMATION FOR THE THIRD YEAR COURSE IN
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY - ACADEMIC YEAR 2004/2005
1.PLACE OF THE COURSE IN THE BVMS DEGREE CURRICULUM
The Veterinary Pathology Course is given during all three terms of the Third Year and this is the first part of studies in Veterinary Pathology which are continued in the Fourth Year in the Combined Integrated Course Part I and Part II.
During the Third Year, classes in Veterinary Pathology are linked to the classes in Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Parasitology and Veterinary Pharmacology. A proper understanding of Veterinary Pathology can only be obtained by combining the knowledge acquired in Veterinary Microbiology and Veterinary Parasitology with that obtained from the Veterinary Pathology Course itself. Veterinary Pharmacology is also taught in the Third Year and much of Pathology is relevant to that course too e.g. inflammation and anti-inflammatory drugs.
2.AIMS OF THE COURSE
(a)To provide a basic understanding of how diseases develop in domestic animals as a result of biologically harmful events occurring in their cells and organ systems
(b)To explain the nature of these harmful events and the consequent cellular and systemic responses that neutralise these events in order to promote tissue repair and the survival of the animal.
(c)To impart essential knowledge for the recognition of diseases in domestic animals primarily from the structural and morphological changes that develop in their cells, tissues and organs.
(d)To give an understanding of the biochemical events that are associated with disease in the organ systems of domestic animals and to explain the basis of the biochemical tests used in the diagnosis of disease.
(e)To give an appreciation of the clinical significance of disease processes in domestic animals and also where appropriate to draw attention to their significance in veterinary public health.
3.LEARNING OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE.
On completion of the Course you should:
(a)Know the various types of events that can cause disease and the mechanisms occurring in these events, which damage cells and organs.
(b)Be able to explain the nature of the abnormal changes that may occur in cells and organs as a result of damage by biologically harmful events.
(c)Be able to describe how an animal can respond to invasion by pathogenic organisms, injury from physical and toxic chemical agents in its environment, and changes in its genetic constitution in order to initiate healing responses and prolong life.
(d)Understand the limitations of healing responses and resistance to infection.
(e)Know the common types of disease processes that can occur in the organ systems of the body
(f)Understand how diseased organs can interact with each other.
(g)Be able to identify grossly or histopathologically a selected number of diseases by the lesions they cause in organs.
(h)Understand how the selected diseases and lesions can interfere with the function of the organs they damage.
(i)Know the biochemical consequences of disturbed function in the organ systems dealt with.
(j)Understand the basis of the biochemical tests commonly used to diagnose disease in domestic animals.
(k)Be aware of the significance of disease in all animals with respect to veterinary public health and food hygiene.
4.COMPONENTS OF THE COURSE.
The Course is made up of several Components dealing with the General Principles of Pathology and with Systemic Pathology. Each Component is a set of Lectures and a series of related Histopathology Laboratory classes. These Components with their aims and learning objectives are listed below in the order they appear in the Course. In addition there is a Component dealing with Pathological Biochemistry and a Component devoted to Gross Pathology. The classes in the Pathological Biochemistry Component each relate to the relevant classes in Systemic Pathology. Gross Pathology practical classes and seminars are held throughout the Course concurrently with the other Components. Clinicopathological correlation classes are held in the third term and relate to specific organ systems.
4.1Introduction to Pathology
Aims
To describe the importance of pathology as the cornerstone on which to build an understanding of veterinary clinical medicine and surgery.
Learning Objectives:
(a)Be familiar with what pathology is.
(b)Understand the need to study pathology.
(c)Be familiar with the common words used to define disease.
(d)Appreciate the general techniques used in pathology.
(e)Know the major causes of disease.
(f)Appreciate the origins of the language of pathology.
(g)Understand the concepts of theistic, humoral and cellular pathology.
4.2Cytopathology
Aims
(a)To give an understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of cell injury and death.
(b)To describe how cells respond to changes in their workload or environment.
Learning Objectives
(a)Be able to describe the causes of cell degeneration.
(b)Describe gross, light microscopic and electron microscopic changes associated with cell swelling.
(c)Identify and describe fatty change at the gross and microscopic levels.
(d)State the tissues in which fatty change is most frequently recognised.
(e)Compare mechanisms of cell death to cell degeneration.
(f)Contrast morphological features of necrotic tissue with those of living tissues.
(g)Recognise the major forms of necrosis.
(h)Distinguish between ante-mortem lesions and post-mortem changes.
(i)Compare dystrophic and metastatic calcification.
(j)Recognise the major pigmentations.
(k)Know the difference between hyperplasia and hypertrophy.
(l) State the reasons for hyperplasia and hypertrophy.
(m)Understand the difference between atrophy, hypoplasia and agenesis.
(n)Be able to compare metaplasia with dysplasia or anaplasia.
(o) Know what is meant by the term hamartoma.
4.3Inflammation and Repair
Aims
(a)To provide an overview of the nature of the inflammatory response and its relationship to tissue damage, healing, the immune response and repair.
(b)To explain the vascular and cellular events that occur in acute inflammation.
(c)To describe the concept of chronic inflammation and the cellular activity associated with it.
(d)To describe the systemic cellular and general metabolic effects of inflammation.
(e)To outline the capacity for regeneration in the different organ systems and its significance in healing.
(f)To give knowledge of the mechanisms involved in repair involving granulation tissue, angiogenesis and fibrosis.
(g)To describe repair in different tissues as well as the functional significance of regeneration and repair for different organs.
Learning Objectives
(a)Understand the various components of the inflammatory response, how they are orchestrated and the ends to which they are directed.
(b)Know the vascular and cellular events of the acute inflammatory response and the mechanisms that mediate and control it.
(c)Know the different forms of chronic inflammation and the basic cellular mechanisms underlying them.
(d)Be able to define the different types of mediators of inflammation with respect to their origin and mode of action.
(e)Be able to describe the role of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, macrophages, eosinophils and mast cells in inflammatory reactions.
(f)Appreciate the systemic effects associated with inflammation such as leucocytosis, fever, cachexia.
(g)Understand the basis for cell regeneration in organs and its limitations.
(h)Obtain knowledge of healing and repair in organs.
(i)Know the dynamics of the processes that lead to the healing of skin wounds.
(j)Be able to recognise cellular and vascular reactions in tissues characteristic of inflammation and healing using light microscopy.
(k)Be able to identify macroscopically inflammatory exudates, simple inflammatory lesions such as abscesses and ulcers as well as scar tissue and fibrous adhesions associated with repair reactions.
4.4Neoplasia
Aims
To impart an understanding of the concept of neoplasia, its causes and consequences.
Learning Objectives:
(a)Define neoplasia
(b)Appreciate the spectrum of neoplastic disease which occur in animals
(c)Name the more common tumours of domestic animals.
(d)Describe the differences between benign and malignant tumours.
(e)Describe how tumours spread through the body.
(f)Name the possible causes, and explain the mechanisms of neoplastic change.
(g)Describe the morphological and functional changes which characterise neoplastic cells.
(h)Appreciate the clinical consequences of neoplasia.
(i) Recognise gross and histological specimens of neoplastic tissue.
4.5Immunopathology
Aims
(a)To provide an understanding of immunotolerance and immunological unresponsiveness.
(b)To describe hypersensitivity reactions and explain their tissue damaging mechanisms.
(c)To review the characteristics of autoimmune diseases and provide an explanation for their development.
Learning Objectives
(a)Understand and explain the difference between immunotolerance and immunodeficiency.
(b)Know how tolerance to extraneous antigens develops in foetal and post-natal life.
(c)Know examples of congenital immunodeficiences and predict their effects.
(d)Understand how acquired immunodeficiences can arise from infections, neoplasia and metabolic disease and be able to give examples of each.
(e)Give examples of drugs, which affect immunoresponsiveness.
(f)Understand how maternally derived antibody interferes with immunoresponsiveness.
(g)Know the basis for classifying hypersensitivity reactions into Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV and be able to give examples of diseases in each Type.
(h)Understand the cellular mechanisms involved in Types I - IV hypersensitivity reactions.
(i)Be able to explain the concept of an autoimmune disease.
(j)Know the characteristics of organ specific and non organ specific autoimmune diseases and be able to give examples of each.
(k)Have an understanding of the immune processes that may lead to the development of autoimmunity.
4.6The Lymphoid System
Aims
To give an understanding of the function and architecture of this system and the lesions that may develop in the lymphoid organs.
Learning Objectives:
(a)To understand the formation of lymphoid cells and the role of their regulatory factors.
(b)To understand the function and architecture of the lymphoid system.
(c)To know the primary and secondary lymphoid organs.
(d)To know the function and architecture of the lymph node.
(e)To know the lesions that affect the lymph node and the diseases causing them.
(f)To know the function and the architecture of the spleen.
(g)To know the lesions of the spleen and the diseases causing them.
(h)To know the function and the architecture of the thymus.
(i)To know the lesions of the thymus and the diseases causing them.
4.7The Haematopoietic System
Aims
To provide knowledge about the components of normal blood and the diseases of blood and blood forming organs as well as explaining the consequences of these diseases.
Learning Objectives
(a)To understand the formation of blood cells and the role of their regulatory factors.
(b)To know the morphology of developing erythrocytes and the function of mature erythrocytes.
(c)To understand the techniques used to count erythrocytes in the blood and to estimate haemoglobin both in the blood and in the individual erythrocyte.
(d)To understand the classification of anaemias and the mechanisms causing the different types of anaemias and to be able to give examples of each type.
(e)To know the blood and bone marrow findings associated with different types of anaemias.
(f)To know the definition and causes of polycythaemia.
(g)To know the morphology of developing leucocytes and understand the functions of mature granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes.
(h)To understand the role of mitotic, storage, marginal and circulating pools of granulocytes.
(i)To understand the techniques used to count leukocytes in the blood.
(j)To understand the abnormalities of leukocytes and some of the conditions associated with them.
(k)To know the myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorders and to understand the blood and bone marrow findings associated with them.
(l)To understand the role of platelets, coagulation factors and vascular endothelium in the normal haemostatic mechanism.
(m)To understand the development of acquired and hereditary coagulopathies and to be able to give examples.
(n)To know the disorders of the platelets.
(o)To recognise and describe normal blood cells.
(p)To recognise and describe the general features associated with a regenerative blood picture and the additional features which can help to establish the cause.
(q)To recognise a leukaemic blood picture.
4.8Circulation
Aims
To impart an understanding of circulatory disturbances.
Learning Objectives
(a)Distinguish hyperaemia from congestion.
(b)Recognise the different forms of haemorrhage.
(c)Define thrombosis and differentiate between a thrombus and a clot.
(d)Explain the pathogenesis of thrombosis.
(e)Describe the main types of emboli.
(f)Understand the mechanisms of disseminated intravascular coagulation.
(g)Know the meaning of infarction.
(h)Understand the mechanisms which lead to oedema.
(i)Be able to explain the causes of shock.
(j)Describe the pathogenesis and pathology of shock.
4.9Cardiovascular System
Aims
To describe the causes, the pathogenesis and the morphological and functional consequences of cardiovascular disease in domestic animals.
Learning Objectives
(a)Understand the pathogenesis of congestive cardiac failure.
(b)Be able to explain the pathogenesis of acute heart failure.
(c)Know the different types of pericardial disease and how they develop.
(d)Understand the various acquired diseases of the myocardium.
(e)Be able to describe the aetiology and pathogenesis of endocardial diseases particularly those affecting the cardiac valves.
(f)Appreciate the changes characteristic of common types of congenital cardiac diseases and their significance.
(g)To have a good comprehension of the disease processes that affect arteries and veins.
(h)Be able to recognise cardiac diseases post-mortem.
4.10The Respiratory System
Aims
To describe the causes, the pathogenesis and the morphological and functional consequences of respiratory disease in domestic animals.
Learning Objectives
(a)To know the main types of upper respiratory tract disease.
(b)To understand the pathogenesis of viral infections of the respiratory tract, both upper and lower.
(c)To appreciate the significance of the factors involved in respiratory disease due to airborne agents.
(d)To understand the pathogenesis of acute and chronic pneumonia and the basic morphological types of pneumonia.
(e)To understand the significance of interstitial lung disease.
(f)To be able to explain the concepts of respiratory distress due to diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and diffuse fibrosing alveolitis (DFA).
(g)To know the pathogenesis and structural features of bronchitis and bronchiectasis.
(h)To know the main types of primary pulmonary tumours and the involvement of the lungs in disseminated neoplastic disease.
(i)To be able to explain the concepts of overinflation, interstitial emphysema and destructive emphysema.
(j)To understand pulmonary collapse and atelectasis.
(k)To be aware of the different types of pulmonary vascular disease and their pathological significance.
(l)To understand the basis of respiratory failure Type I and Type II.
(m)To be able to recognise post mortem the common pulmonary lesions of cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, and cats.
(n)To be able to recognise by histopathological examination typical examples of pulmonary lesions.
4.11Urinary System
Aims
To give an understanding of the causes, progression and consequences of urinary tract disease in domestic animals
Learning Objectives
(a)Be familiar with the terminology used in describing urinary tract disease and be able to use it accurately.
(b)Know the effects which renal dysfunction can have on: clearance of waste products from the blood, fluid balance, electrolyte balance, mineral balance, acid-base balance and haemopoiesis.
(c)Be aware of the reserve capacity of the kidney and appreciate the difference between renal disease and renal failure.
(d)Understand the concepts of acute and chronic renal failure, protein-losing nephropathy and the nephrotic syndrome.
(e)Understand the role of the kidney in maintenance of systemic blood pressure and the effects of hypertension on the kidney.
(f)Know the common causes of glomerular disease in domestic animals.
(g)Describe the potential consequences of glomerular disease and outline how it may progress.
(h)Know the common causes of tubulointerstitial disease in domestic animals.
(i)Describe the potential consequences of tubulointerstitial disease and outline how it may progress.
(j)Appreciate how different renal diseases may have different effects on body function atdifferentstages in their progression.
(k)Recognise and describe the macroscopic changes associated with uraemia.
(l)Recognise and describe the macroscopic and microscopic changes of common renal diseases.
(m)Know the aetiology, predisposing factors and potential consequences of cystitis.
(n)Know the predisposing factors and consequences of urolithiasis.
(o)Know the possible causes and consequences of obstruction at different levels of the urinary tract.
(p)Know the common types of urinary tract tumours.
4.12 Alimentary Tract
Aims
To impart an understanding of the causes, progression and consequences of alimentary tract disease in domestic animals.
Learning Objectives
(a)Be familiar with the terminology used in describing alimentary tract disease and be able to use it accurately.
(b)Know the common causes and consequences of oropharyngeal diseases of domestic animals.
(c)Recognise and describe the macroscopic and microscopic changes associated with common epitheliotropic viral infections of cattle.