Comparative and Laboratory Animal Pathology

THEORETICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES: The course is divided into two sections, general pathology and comparative morphopathology with complementary purposes. Aim of the course is to gain knowledge on the molecular basis of pathogenic mechanisms and the corresponding morphological lesions of the main degenerative, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases in animals including laboratory species (lagomorphs and laboratory rodents) with a comparative approach.
PRACTICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1) Blood smear preparation: Preparation, staining and identification of leukocytes and leukocyte formula. 2) Molecular diagnostics: extraction from pathological tissues and cells of total RNA. Retro-transcription of RNA to cDNA, assessment of gene expression by qualitative PCR.

The student is expected to acquire knowledge of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of the main animal diseases, to learn how to identify leukocytes and how to use and interpret major molecular techniques for molecular diagnostics of disease and to gain knowledge of description and interpretation of gross and microscopical aspects of relevant diseases in animal species including major laboratory species with a comparative approach useful to identify spontaneous models for human disease. Students will learn the application of basic gross, microscopical descriptive techniques, haematological and molecular techniques to assess pathogenesis and identify main diseases. Students will learn to assess and interpret the quality of a blood smear, PCR results, morphology of inflammation, degeneration and neoplasia in a comparative manner. They will communicate with proper terms related to animal pathology and how to critically analyze the literature.