Hygiene and Animal Health

Basic Microbiology.

Practical classes: 1. in teaching units of the ESAC (production animals, performing hygienic measures and knowing the products to apply for each specific case. Construction of check list of hygienic measures. 2. laboratory: evaluation of environmental and surface hygiene (sampling methodology) and water collection and quality assessment. Collection of information relevant to the scope of this UC.  Theoretical classes: Expositive; research and presentation of papers with active intervention and formation of dialogue groups in the classroom. Consultation of the websites of the different national (DGAV), European (EFSA) and world organizations (OIE; WHO; CDC) with a mission in animal health.

The student should be able to:
1. Know the structures and competences of national, European and world institutions involved in animal health;
2. Explain how diseases are transmitted and controled;
3. Apply the knowledge of microbiology, epidemiology and hygiene to the biosecurity plans in animal productions;
4. Relate animal health and food safety, public health.

1.Institutions for animal health: WHO, OIE, DGAV, FAO and EFSA. Institutional competences in animal protection, food and health.
2. Epidemiology concepts: transmission routes; entrance gates; virulent products; vector; carrier. Prevalence and incidence. Health statute. Health plans.
3. Vaccines and vaccination: types of vaccines and care in its application; routes of application and procedures to be followed, in farm animals.
3. Biosafety: hygiene of animal facilities and slaughterhouses – procedures and disinfectants; pest control; removal of cadavers, effluents and legal aspects. Chemical and microbiological quality of drinking water.
4. Animal health and food safety: zoonoses; food poisoning and good practices in production.

Periodic assessment

1. Theoretical component (T): 2 multiple answers or T/F or mixed tests (50%+50%);
2. Practical component (P): 1 practical work/report, applied to animal health at ESAC (50%) + 1 applied research work (50%).
NF= 50% T + 50% P

A student will be approved when they cumulatively obtain the following:
i) a minimum attendance rate of 75%;
ii) a grade of at least 7.5 in each assessment;
(iii) a final grade of at least 9.5.

Exam assessment:

Students who have not passed the continuous assessment, but who have attended at least 75% of the classes actually taught, are entitled to a partial exemption from the assessment elements in which they have obtained a minimum grade of 7.5 during the exam period.
Students who do not pass the continuous assessment have access to the exam periods defined by the regulations.

At the exam, the weighting of both components (T and P) is maintained.

The assessment consists of a written test and a pratical component.

The student will be approved when he obtains an average mark of 9.5 or higher (on a scale of 0 to 20).

NAO