Pathology and Reproduction
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The aim of the course in PATHOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION is for students to develop knowledge about the causes and mechanisms of disease and the major defense systems of animal organisms. Additionally, students should acquire the necessary information for the proper management of the main aspects of reproduction and artificial insemination in livestock, with particular emphasis on the comparative aspects between different species.
Expected learning outcomes
1. Knowledge and Understanding: By the end of the course, students should be able to recognize and understand the causes and mechanisms of disease and the main defense systems of the organism.
2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding: Students should demonstrate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the management of livestock welfare and the resolution of issues related to animal reproduction.
3. Critical and Judgmental Skills: Students should demonstrate the ability to critically discuss the acquired information. Specific exercises and group work on topics related to the course, with presentations to the class, are directed towards this end.
4. Communication Skills: Students should demonstrate the ability to use scientifically appropriate terminology, particularly regarding pathology and reproduction of livestock animals. Exercises and field trips aim to stimulate the ability to express oneself correctly and to discuss scientifically with peers and professionals in the livestock sector.
5. Lifelong Learning Skills: Students should demonstrate the ability to independently research sources to solve pathology and reproduction problems and evaluate them critically. They should possess the ability to use the acquired knowledge to interpret such problems, aided by available knowledge sources and good mental organization.
2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding: Students should demonstrate the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the management of livestock welfare and the resolution of issues related to animal reproduction.
3. Critical and Judgmental Skills: Students should demonstrate the ability to critically discuss the acquired information. Specific exercises and group work on topics related to the course, with presentations to the class, are directed towards this end.
4. Communication Skills: Students should demonstrate the ability to use scientifically appropriate terminology, particularly regarding pathology and reproduction of livestock animals. Exercises and field trips aim to stimulate the ability to express oneself correctly and to discuss scientifically with peers and professionals in the livestock sector.
5. Lifelong Learning Skills: Students should demonstrate the ability to independently research sources to solve pathology and reproduction problems and evaluate them critically. They should possess the ability to use the acquired knowledge to interpret such problems, aided by available knowledge sources and good mental organization.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Prerequisites for admission
Preliminary specific knowledge is not requested
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written test, administered in a single session, with a duration of two hours. The test includes both open-ended questions and multiple-choice questions.
For the General Pathology module, the final examination comprises a variable number of 10 to 20 multiple-choice questions and/or short open-ended questions requiring schematic answers on pathophysiological processes. In addition, a mid-term assessment is offered in the form of a group bibliographic research project, with presentation of the results to the class. This assessment, which is optional, may provide up to three additional points to the module grade.
For the Reproduction module, a mid-term assessment may be held on the first part of the syllabus. Should students fail to take or pass this intermediate test, it will be resubmitted during the final written examination. The final assessment consists of five multiple-choice questions with four options each, and three open-ended questions designed to assess the acquisition of appropriate scientific language.
Incorrect answers will not result in any deductions from the final score.
The final grade will be calculated as the average of the marks obtained in the two modules and will be expressed on a scale of thirty. Grades will be communicated to students via the online system, and students are entitled to refuse the grade and retake the examination.
For the General Pathology module, the final examination comprises a variable number of 10 to 20 multiple-choice questions and/or short open-ended questions requiring schematic answers on pathophysiological processes. In addition, a mid-term assessment is offered in the form of a group bibliographic research project, with presentation of the results to the class. This assessment, which is optional, may provide up to three additional points to the module grade.
For the Reproduction module, a mid-term assessment may be held on the first part of the syllabus. Should students fail to take or pass this intermediate test, it will be resubmitted during the final written examination. The final assessment consists of five multiple-choice questions with four options each, and three open-ended questions designed to assess the acquisition of appropriate scientific language.
Incorrect answers will not result in any deductions from the final score.
The final grade will be calculated as the average of the marks obtained in the two modules and will be expressed on a scale of thirty. Grades will be communicated to students via the online system, and students are entitled to refuse the grade and retake the examination.
Comparative general pathology
Course syllabus
GENERAL PATHOLOGY Homeostasis and disease (1 h) General etiology: genetic causes; radiation and photosensibilization, chemical causes and protective synthesis, alimentary causes, living agents (7 h)
Cellular and extracellular degeneration: torbid degeneration, vacuolar degeneration, steatosis, amiloidosis (4 h)
Cell death: necrosis and apoptosis (1 h)
Inflammation: angioflogosis and histoflogosis, tissue repair (5h)
Hyperplasia and hypoplasia (1h)
Fundamentals of oncogenesis (2 h)
Fever and non-febrile hyperthermia (2h)
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY of blood: red and white cells alterations (4h)
Circulation diseases (2h)
Stress (2h)
Metabolic diseases: ketosis, milk fever and hypocalcemia in ruminants (5 h)
IMMUNOPATHOLOGY: hypersensitivity and immunodeficiency, (4h)
Cellular and extracellular degeneration: torbid degeneration, vacuolar degeneration, steatosis, amiloidosis (4 h)
Cell death: necrosis and apoptosis (1 h)
Inflammation: angioflogosis and histoflogosis, tissue repair (5h)
Hyperplasia and hypoplasia (1h)
Fundamentals of oncogenesis (2 h)
Fever and non-febrile hyperthermia (2h)
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY of blood: red and white cells alterations (4h)
Circulation diseases (2h)
Stress (2h)
Metabolic diseases: ketosis, milk fever and hypocalcemia in ruminants (5 h)
IMMUNOPATHOLOGY: hypersensitivity and immunodeficiency, (4h)
Teaching methods
The course will be composed by lectures on main topics of Veterinary General Pathology, Pathophysiology and Immunopathology and by a practical part composed by movies, lab activities, a didactic visit to a farm. Also a practical session of bibliographic researches will be planned by dividing the students in small groups. The results of this research will be facultatively presented to the class and will contribute to some addional points for the final evaluation.
Teaching Resources
Lecture slides and some scientific articles will be provided via ARIEL platform
Livestock reproduction
Course syllabus
Lectures:
- Anatomy of the reproductive system of the bull and boar (4 hours)
- Semen collection (4 hours)
- Evaluation of the semen (4 hours)
- Cryopreservation of the semen (2 hours)
- Anatomy of the bovine and sow reproductive system (2 hours)
- Hormone and estrous cycle (2 hours)
- Puberty and estrous cycle (2 hours)
- Instrumental insemination (4 hours)
- Pregnancy (4 hours)
- Parturition (2 hours)
- Postpartum (4 hours)
- Synchronization (4 hours)
- Management of the sow (2 hours)
Practice:
- simulation of instrumental insemination in the anatomy room with female genitals collected at the slaughterhouse (3 hours)
- simulation of instrumental insemination of animals in a stall (5 hours)
- macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the seed: volume, colour, odour, appearance, pH, motility, concentration, vitality and morphology. Isolation of oocytes from ovarian follicles and their manipulation and classification (3 hours)
- educational excursion to a livestock farm equipped with automatic systems for detecting estrus (5 hours)
The exercises are repeated, therefore, the total number of hours to carry them out is 27 hours.
- Anatomy of the reproductive system of the bull and boar (4 hours)
- Semen collection (4 hours)
- Evaluation of the semen (4 hours)
- Cryopreservation of the semen (2 hours)
- Anatomy of the bovine and sow reproductive system (2 hours)
- Hormone and estrous cycle (2 hours)
- Puberty and estrous cycle (2 hours)
- Instrumental insemination (4 hours)
- Pregnancy (4 hours)
- Parturition (2 hours)
- Postpartum (4 hours)
- Synchronization (4 hours)
- Management of the sow (2 hours)
Practice:
- simulation of instrumental insemination in the anatomy room with female genitals collected at the slaughterhouse (3 hours)
- simulation of instrumental insemination of animals in a stall (5 hours)
- macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the seed: volume, colour, odour, appearance, pH, motility, concentration, vitality and morphology. Isolation of oocytes from ovarian follicles and their manipulation and classification (3 hours)
- educational excursion to a livestock farm equipped with automatic systems for detecting estrus (5 hours)
The exercises are repeated, therefore, the total number of hours to carry them out is 27 hours.
Teaching methods
Traditional (lectures and laboratory exercises in small groups).
In the frontal lessons, students are involved by stimulating their interest and encouraging them to participate by asking questions and asking them to summarize parts already covered in previous lessons.
In the practical exercises in small groups, the student is guided to achieve his independence in the manual skills necessary for the evaluation and treatment of the gametes and the instruments necessary to carry out the evaluation of the semen and an artificial insemination.
In the frontal lessons, students are involved by stimulating their interest and encouraging them to participate by asking questions and asking them to summarize parts already covered in previous lessons.
In the practical exercises in small groups, the student is guided to achieve his independence in the manual skills necessary for the evaluation and treatment of the gametes and the instruments necessary to carry out the evaluation of the semen and an artificial insemination.
Teaching Resources
- Scientific Papers
- Slides of the Lectures in Ariel
- Slides of the Lectures in Ariel
Modules or teaching units
Comparative general pathology
VET/03 - VETERINARY PATHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Comazzi Stefano
Livestock reproduction
VET/10 - VETERINARY CLINICAL OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Lange Consiglio Anna
Shifts:
Professor:
Lange Consiglio Anna
1 turno per tutti gli studenti da 5 ore
Professor:
Lange Consiglio Anna2 turno per gruppi di studenti da 5 ore
Professor:
Lange Consiglio Anna3 turno per gruppi di studenti da 5 ore
Professor:
Lange Consiglio Anna4 turno per gruppi di studenti da 6 ore
Professor:
Lange Consiglio Anna5 turno per gruppi di studenti da 6 ore
Professor:
Lange Consiglio AnnaEducational website(s)
Professor(s)