Course Description
Wildlife disease investigation and management are skills required of wildlife veterinarians, biologists, population ecologists, and many other disciplines. The course covers the investigation of wildlife disease at a national and international level, the management of disease and how disease ecology is informing the field of wildlife disease investigation.
Athena Title
WILD DIS ECOL
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1) To understand the principles of disease investigation and management as it applies to wild animal populations. 2) To expose the students to international wildlife disease problems, investigation and management and differences from our system in the USA. 3) To integrate wildlife disease ecology and traditional wildlife disease investigation through exploration of the literature. 4) To learn and practice how to review an investigative disease problem. 5) To learn and practice how to lead a critical discussion of specific themes in wildlife disease ecology.
Topical Outline
Course overview and introduction, sign-up sheets, objectives, and expectations #1 What is Health and Disease? Effect of Disease on Populations of Animals #2 What Causes Disease? Epidemiology primer #3 Disease Investigation I: Identify disease, pathogen; population data #4 Wildlife Disease Investigation II: Environmental factors and human effects on wildlife disease #5 Specific problems associated with studying disease in wild animal populations #6 Disease Investigation III: Diagnostic Tests, limitations and uses #7 Pathogenicity, Defense, Resistance, Repair #8 Transmission and Maintenance of Disease in Populations Student-led discussion #1 #9 Formulating hypotheses Student-led discussion #2 #10 Investigations of outbreaks and chronic or inapparent disease Student-led discussion #3 Student-led discussion #5 Student-led discussion #6 Student Presentations (2.5 days) Student-led discussion #7 #11 Disease Management I: the pathogen Student-led discussion #8 Student-led discussion #9 #12 Disease Management II: the host Student-led discussion #10--FIRST DRAFT OF FINAL PAPER DUE #13 Disease Management III: the environment #14 Disease Management IV: Human Activities Last day of class; Wrap up, Conclusions and Evaluations-FINAL
Syllabus
Public CV