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BI3ZE8-Zoonotic Epidemiology
Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4
Module Convenor: Dr Francoise Mazet
Email: f.m.mazet@reading.ac.uk
Module Co-convenor: Dr Glyn Barrett
Email: glyn.barrett@reading.ac.uk
Type of module:
Summary module description:
Zoonotic diseases (or Zoonoses) are defined as diseases which can be transmitted to humans from animals. Diseases which originate from wildlife or livestock either as hosts or vectors pose significant issues for the health and well-being of people, companion animals as well as other livestock and wild animals. Through a series of lectures this course will provide: 1) A detailed background and knowledge of a range of zoonotic disease-causing organisms, their hosts and vectors, symptoms associated with zoonoses and their impact on human health and the economy; 2) Understanding of the co-evolution of hosts and diseases; 3) The control of zoonotic diseases through management of disease agents, their hosts and vectors and 4) The role of epidemiological modelling in devising effective management strategies. Specific examples of zoonotic diseases discussed within the module will include, but not be confined to: Influenza A, Covid-19, Lyme disease, Malaria, Ebola, rabies and plague.
Students will be expected to read scientific papers as indicated by the lecturers and will be tested on their understanding of the methodologies and results through a set test. Students will examine one aspect in depth through the preparation of an essay on a defined topic.
Aims:
Zoonotic diseases (or Zoonoses) are defined as diseases which can be transmitted to humans from animals. Diseases which originate from wildlife or livestock either as hosts or vectors pose significant issues for the health and well-being of people, companion animals as well as other livestock and wild animals. Through a series of lectures this course will provide: 1) A detailed background and knowledge of a range of zoonotic disease-causing organisms, their hosts and vectors, symptoms associated with zoonoses and their impact on human health and the economy; 2) Understanding of the co-evolution of hosts and diseases; 3) The control of zoonotic diseases through management of disease agents, their hosts and vectors and 4) The role of epidemiological modelling in devising effective management strategies. Specific examples of zoonotic diseases discussed within the module will include, but not be confined to: Influenza A, Covid-19, Lyme disease, Malaria, Ebola, rabies and plague.
Students will be expected to read scientific papers as indicated by the lecturers and will be tested on their understanding of the methodologies and results through a set test. Students will examine one aspect in depth through the preparation of an essay on a defined topic.
Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be expected to be able to:
- Describe and discuss the range of disease-causing agents and cellular mechanisms involved in the different types of zoonotic diseases
- Describe and discuss the processes in the co-evolution of disease-causing agents and their hosts
- Describe and discuss taxonomic differences in the role of wildlife including insects as vectors of diseases which affect humans, their companion animals and livestock
- Describe the relative importance of zoonotic diseases in terms of human morbidity and mortality as well as their economic impacts
- Describe and discuss approaches to disease surveillance at local, national and international scales
- Describe, discuss and critically evaluate the mechanisms and approaches used to manage diseases which involve wildlife animals and livestock as host and/or vectors
- Describeand discuss the implications of changes in host abundance as a consequence of human actions for disease-causing agents
- Describe and discuss the role of epidemiological modelling in helping develop disease control strategies
- Describe and discuss a range of emerging infectious diseases and the factors relating to the emergence of these diseases
Additional outcomes:
Students will gain experience in the review and criti