MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AVIAN MEDICINE

Course syllabus for full time students

PAM711 Advanced Diagnostic Medicine I (ADMI)

Course description:

Laboratory study of various diagnostic tests for common infectious diseases of avian species. This course teaches the theory and practical aspects of laboratory technics for the diagnosis of avian diseases.

Course purpose:

The purpose of this course is to make the participants proficient in definitive (confirmatory) diagnosis of avian diseases using laboratory me

Course topics:

• Decontamination and Lab waste management
• Lab quality management
• Biosecurity in field and safety in Lab
• General introduction to laboratory diagnosis. Sample collection, transportation, processing, storage and choice of assay.
• Guide for sampling (faecal, cloacal, pharyingeal and tissue) at anti- and postmortem levels in avian species for diagnosis.
• Diagnostic bacteriology: Media preparation, reagents and handling of specimen for microbiological investigations with special reference to avian patients.
• Identification of major avian coccidia,fungi, major ecto and endoparasites and haemoparasites and use of avian embryo in laboratory diagnosis.

Recommended texts:

1. A Laboratory Manual for the Isolation and Identification of Avian Pathogens. Edts: David E. Swayne et. al. (Pub. American Association of Avian Pathologists)

PAM712  Advanced Avian Clinical Practice I

Course description:

Introduction of participant to clinical case diagnosis, sampling and reporting Clinical diagnosis and clinico-pathological study of cases from poultry farms, caged, aviary, captured and free flying wild birds. 

Course purpose:

The purpose of this course is to teach participants to clinical case handling, disease investigation, case reporting, approach to diagnosis and disease management in avian species.

Course topics:

• Disease investigation and management
• History taking
• Clinical examination
• Sampling

Recommended text:

1. Natalia Majo and RoserDolz (2012). Atlas of Avian Necropsy. MerialServet, Grupo Milan. S. L. Zaragoza, Spain, 82pp.
2. Abdu, P. A. (2014). Manual of Important Poultry Diseases in Nigeria. 3rd Edition, ISBN 978-125-248. 5 and 6 Ventures Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, 106pp.

PAM725 Advanced Avian Clinical Practice II

Course description :

Clinico-pathological studies of cases from poultry farms, caged aviary, captured and free flying wild birds. 

Course purpose:

To teach disease investigation approach and disease management.

Course topics:

• Farm visits
• Post mortem examination

PAM713 Avian Medicine

Course description :

Teachings on common disorders of, digestive, (including liver and pancreas), respiratory and reproductive systems of avian species and management techniques. Congenital, nutritional, endocrine and behavioural disorders; parasitic, bacterial, viral and fungal infections, as well as, neoplastic conditions affecting these systems in avian species.

Course purpose:

Broad teachings on, diagnosis and control of common disorders of birds.

Course topics:

• Common conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract in poultry and aviary birds: Bacterial, viral and protozoan diseases.
• Functional and neoplastic disorders in aviary birds.
• Overview of clinical implications of liver disease: aetiologies, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment.
• Chlamydiosis, Pacheco’s disease, etc.  Disorders of the pancreas:  pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatitis, neoplasia, diabetes mellitus.
• Common conditions affecting the respiratory system in poultry and aviary birds: Bacterial, viral, protozoan and fungal diseases such as brooder pneumonia, pnuemovirus infections, infectious laryngotracheitis, etc.
• Common conditions affecting the reproductive system in poultry and aviary birds: Bacterial, viral and protozoan diseases.
• Investigating reproduction problems in an avian species: cessation of egg production, infertile eggs, embryonic deaths, etc.
• Understanding bird behaviour, development of behavioural problems, and management of behavioural disorders.
• Cardiac diseases and conditions affecting the cardiovascular system in poultry species: Vitamin E deficiency, gout, bacteria septicaemia, neoplastic disease (Marek’s disease), etc.
• Artherosclerosis and hypertension in birds– overview, aetiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management.
• Overview of common conditions affecting the nervous system in poultry and aviary birds: Newcastle disease, avian influenza, vitamin E deficiency, Marek’s disease, avian encephalomyelitis, etc.
• Overview of common disease conditions affecting the Urinary system in poultry and other avian species.

Recommended texts:

1. Diseases of Poultry. Hofstad M. S et al (Eds)
2. Avian Histopathology, 2008, Ed. O. Fletcher, 3rd Ed, AAAP publication. Jacksonville, FL.
3. Color Atlas of Avian Histopathology, 1996, C.J. Randall and R.L. Reece, Mosby-Wolfe
4. Diseases of Poultry, 2013, Ed. D. Swayne, et al., Blackwell Publishing, Ames, Iowa
5. Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Domestic Fowl, 1991, C.J. Randall, Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.
6. Avian Diseases Manual, 2013, 7th Edition, AAAP publication. Jacksonville, FL
7. Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds, 2003. R. E. Schmidt, D. R. Reavill and D. N. Phalen. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK.
8. Avian Medicine: Principles and application, 1994, Ed. B. W. Ritchie, G.J. Harrison and L.R. Harrison, Wingers publishing, Lakeworth, FL
9. Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases: General field procedures and diseases of migratory birds, 2001, Ed. M. Friend, US Dept. Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service pub, Washington, DC.
10. Diseases of Cage and Aviary birds, 1996, W. J. Rosskopf and R.W. Woerpel, Williams and Wilkins, PA
11. Diseases of Wild Waterfowl, 1981, G.A. Wobeser, Plenum Press, NY

PAM719  Avian Immunology

Course description:

A series of lectures on the avian immune system, organs of immunity in birds and types of immune responses, cells of immunity, cytokines and chemokines in birds, avian immunoglobulins and other peculiarities of the bird’s immune system. Avian immunosuppressive diseases and immune evasion. Practical aspects of poultry vaccination.

Course purpose:

The course will teach participants the scientific bases of protection by vaccination, interactions between avian pathogens and the immune system and some peculiarities of avian immunity.

Course topics:

• Avian immune organs
• Structure and features of the Avian immune system
• Adaptive and non-adaptive immunity in avian species.
• Cellular (avian T cells, antigen recognition and lineages; avian cytokines and chemokines) and humoral immunity (B cells, the Bursa of Fabricius and the generation of antibody repertoires)
• Steps of immune response
• Immunosuppression
• Vaccines and vaccination
• Avian immunosuppressive diseases and immune evasion

Recommended texts:

1. Diseases of Poultry by Saif Y. M
2. Avian Immunology Vol. I, II and III by Fred Davison, Bernd Kaspers and Karel A. Schat.
3. Gimeno, M. Isabel (2013). Immunosuppressive Diseases of Poultry. Merial Gear Partnership, Grup Milan, S. L. Zaragoza, Spain, 172pp.

PAM721 Advanced Diagnostic Medicine II (ADM II)

Course description: 

This course is a continuation of ADM I which teaches the theory and practical aspects of more advanced laboratory technics for the diagnosis of avian diseases and for research in avian diseases.

Course purpose:

This course will enable participants be proficient in more advanced laboratory techniques for diagnosis of and research in avian diseases.

Course topics:

• Isolation, culturing and identification of major viruses of avian species.
• Haemagglutination, haemagglutination inhibition test, agar gel diffusion test, precipitation test.
• Tissue culture techniques for virus isolation
• Diagnostic Serology: Serum neutralisation test, ELISA, Dot-Blot ELISA, Immunoperoxidase.
• Use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies in disease diagnosis with reference to avian diseases.
• Preparation of immune sera and isolation of immunoglobulin.
• Molecular techniques.

Recommended texts:

1. Virology: A Laboratory Manual by Florence G. B; Thomas M. C and Danny L. W
2. The ELISA Guide book by John R. Crowther.    
3. Basic Virological Techniques by Grace C. Rovozzo
4. Molecular Cloning. A laboratory manual by J. Sambrook; E. F Fritsch and T. Maniatis.

PAM727 Advanced Poultry Pathology

Course description :

Pathogenesis and pathology for the diagnosis of poultry Diseases

Course purpose:

To enhance better understanding of pathogenesis and pathology of avian diseases

Course topics:

• Pathogenesis, gross and microscopic manifestations of bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections in avian species. 
• Pathogenesis, gross and microscopic manifestations of viral infections in avian species.
• Pathogenesis, gross and microscopic manifestations of metabolic and nutritionally related diseases of avian species.
• Pathogenesis, gross and microscopic manifestations of toxins in avian species.
• Changes in haematology and clinical chemistry induced by infectious and non-infectious conditions in avian species.
• Cytology and immunohistochemistry.

Recommended texts:

1. Diseases of Poultry. Hofstad M. S et al (Eds)
2. Avian Histopathology, 2008, Ed. O. Fletcher, 3rd Ed, AAAP publication. Jacksonville, FL.
3. Color Atlas of Avian Histopathology, 1996, C.J. Randall and R.L. Reece, Mosby-Wolfe
4. Diseases of Poultry, 2013, Ed. D. Swayne, et al., Blackwell Publishing, Ames, Iowa
5. Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Domestic Fowl, 1991, C.J. Randall, Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa.
6. Avian Diseases Manual, 2013, 7th Edition, AAAP publication. Jacksonville, FL
7. Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds, 2003. R. E. Schmidt, D. R. Reavill and D. N. Phalen. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK.
8. Natalia Majo and RoserDolz (2012). Atlas of Avian Necropsy. MerialServet, Grupo Milan. S. L. Zaragoza, Spain, 82pp.
9. Avian Medicine: Principles and application, 1994, Ed. B. W. Ritchie, G.J. Harrison and L.R. Harrison, Wingers publishing, Lakeworth, FL

PAM726   Avian Anatomy

Course description:

Functional and comparative anatomy of domestic birds and pet birds.  Emphasis on structure as related to function and adaptation of the structure of different species to their mode of existence.

Course purpose:

This course is to make participants understand the relationship between systems  and their functions in avian species.

Course topics:

• General overview of the anatomy of avian species
• Cutaneous structures and feathers of birds
• Musculoskeletal system of birds
• Celomic cavities of birds
• Digestive system of birds
• Respiratory System of Birds
• Female and male reproductive systems of birds
• Cardiovascular system of birds
• Endocrine and lymphatic system of birds
• Nervous system in birds.

Recommended texts:

1. Outlines of Avian Anatomy by King A. S. and J. McLelland (Bailliere Tindall, London).
2. A Coloured Atlas of Avian Anatomy by J McLelland (Wolfe Publishing Ltd, London)
3. Journals

PAM725 Poultry Breeder Health and Hatchery Management

Course Description:

Study  of breeders’ health, hatchery management, poultry stock immune profiling and predictive health status.

Course purpose:

The course is to allow the students have deep understanding of the management of breeder poultry farms, the  identification and control of problems in hatchery and breeders.

Course topics:

• Management aspects of poultry breeders health.
• Housing and management of parent stocks.
• Vaccination of poultry breeders.
• Poultry flock immune profiling
• Care of hatchable eggs.
• Parental chick immunity.
• Egg borne diseases.
• Incubation of hatchable eggs.
• Egg incubation problems.
• Procedure for investigation of hatchability problems.
• Biosecurity in breeder farms, hatcheries and feed mills.

Recommended texts:

1. Egg and eggshell quality by Solomon S. E. Iowa State University press (USA).
2. Avian incubation. Poultry Science Symposium No 22 by Tullet S. G. Butterworth-Heinemann, London.
3. The health of poultry. Mark Pattison (Editor). Longman Scientific & technical.
4. Biosecurity in poultry industry. Simon M. Shane et al (Editors) by American Association of Avian pathologists.

PAM729 Research Methods & Experimental Design

Course description :

Basic experimental models in human biologic and medicine and basic concepts in probability and descriptive statistics.

Course purpose:

Designing, analyzing and interpretation of research results using modern statistic methods.

This course is to enable the students acquire statistical knowledge for their use in processing and interpretation of data for clinical and research uses.   

Course topics:

• Introductory statistics,
• Study designs,
• Scales of measurement, quality of measurement, statistical variable/data,
• Qualitative and quantitative data sources.
• Sampling methods and sample size determination,
• Data organization: Statistics Charts, Tables, Graphs Frequency Tables, Frequency distribution;
• Histogram, Stem and leaf plot, box plot;
• Summary indices: Mean, Median, Modes Variance Standard Deviation;
• Probability distributions: Normal, Binomial, Poisson distribution, Descriptive statistics, frequency table, tables for qualitative and quantitative data, diagrams, types of diagrams.
• Data summarization: Summary indices, measures of central tendency and dispersion;
• Test of statistical hypothesis; Confidence intervals; Parametric and non-parametric tests: Z-test for proportions, Chi-square test, Fischer’s exact test and T-test. Analysis of variance, Regression and correlation, Spearman rank and Kendal correlation.
• Modeling, scientific writing, hypothesis testing

Recommended text:

1. Statistical methods for data analysis and data interpretation by Alegbeleye G. O. et al (Eds).
2. Elementary Statistics. McGraw Hill, Higher Education, New York.
3. Basic and Clinical Biostatistics. By Dawson B. and R. G Trapp. Lange Medical books/McGraw-Hill, Medical Publishing Division, New York.
4. Introductory Statistics. Evan Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited. Jericho Road Ibadan, Nigeria.                                                                                                                                                                                                       

PAM738 Disease Surveillance and Emergency Preparedness.

Course description:

Teachings on disease surveillance, Trans Boundary Animal Diseases (TAD), National Animal disease Information System (NADIS), role of International organisation and emergency preparedness as it relates to avian diseases

Purpose of course:

This course is to let the participants understand procedures in disease surveillance and preparation for emergency situation most especially in pandemic situations. Participants will also be taught role of international organisation in disease surveillance and control.

Course topics:

• Definitions, classification of diseases of avian species.
• Disease patterns, disease surveillance. 
• Role of international organizations in disease surveillance. 
• Maps and grid references, uses of GIS in disease mapping, Risk assessment,
• National Animal Disease Information System (NADIS info), Epi-Info, TAD in the diagnosis,
• Treatment and control of transboundary avian diseases, travel diseases of man, past and present disease.
• Trans boundary avian diseases
• Characteristics of avian diseases subject to mandatory reporting
• Surveillance (objectives, types, data collection, case definition & classification, premises calcification, back forward and contact tracing, biosecurity and biosafety, interaction with stakeholders)
• Surveillance plan
• Emergency preparedness and response plan
• Good emergency management practices
• Disease reporting (types of reports, channel and tools of reporting)
• National Animal Disease Information System (NADIS).
• Uses of GIS in disease mapping
• Risk assessment and risk management

Recommended text:

1. Risk-Based Disease Surveillance by A. Cameron, F. Njeumi, D. Chibeu and T. Martin, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2014.
2. Good Emergency Management Practice: The Essentials A guide to preparing for animal health emergencies by Nick Honhold, Ian Douglas, William Geering, ArnonShimshoni, Juan LubrothFAO ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Manual Rome, 2011.
3. Strategies for the Prevention of Introduction of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Into Nigeria by Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services, 2006

PAM747 Seminar

Course Description:

Detailed study and analysis of any selected subject of clinical or clinico-pathological interest in avian medicine and presentation in form of seminars for scored assessment. 

Purpose of course:

To teach students on rudiments of presentations and organisation of clinical cases.

Course topics:

To be decided by student within Avian Medicine. There will be two presentations

PAM748 Research Thesis

Course Description:

Detailed investigation (research) and documentation of any subject of clinical interest in avian medicine and presentation in the form of a Dissertation for both internal and external assessments.

Course purpose:

To enable students contribute to knowledge in Avian Medicine

Course topics:

Student to select project topic in any area of avian medicine.                                                                                                        Students to present i. Pre-project and ii. Post project seminars.

PAM749 Orthopaedic and injury intervention in Avian species

Course Description :

Approach to treatment of orthopaedic problems and injuries in zoo and fancy birds.               

Course purpose :

The handling of orthopaedic and injury problems in avian species especially in zoo and caged fancy birds. This is a new trend in Avian medical practice.

Course topics :

• Introduction to orthopaedic problems in avian species (possible sources and causes, effects in different avian species)
• Injuries and sources in poultry, zoo and fancy birds.
• Wound management in birds
• Sequential diagnosis and management of various orthopaedic  problems in in zoo and poultry birds.
• Orthopaedic facilities in use for various avian species (including various implants in fixing fractures)
• Traumatic and non – traumatic problems of diarthrodial joints in birds.

Diagnostic protocol and management of lameness in avian species.