Veterinary General Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry

To provide the student with knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying animal diseases, the main alterations in the functions of organs and systems, and the theoretical and practical bases necessary to choose the most appropriate laboratory analytical methods for clinical biochemistry and clinical veterinary molecular biology analyses.

1) Knowledge and comprehension skills. On completion of the course, the student will acquire knowledge of the aetiopathogenesis of the main pathological and pathophysiological changes in the organs and systems of animals and theoretical and practical knowledge of the methods of analysis of veterinary clinical chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology.
2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course the student will be able to interpret the most common pathological and pathophysiological alterations and the laboratory data characterising them, as well as to choose the most appropriate methodologies for the measurement of the main biochemical-molecular diagnostic parameters of veterinary interest. The student will know how to mathematically process numerical instrumental results for the calculation and expression of the concentration in the appropriate unit of measurement of disease markers in biological samples and will have acquired preliminary skills to assess the reliability and diagnostic value of the analytical result.
3) Critical skills and judgement. The student will develop critical skills and autonomy of judgement by tackling problems of diagnostic-clinical pathology and laboratory methodologies during practical exercises in the biochemistry, microscopy and computer laboratories. The ability to integrate notions received in the various modules of the course will also be developed through the proposal of practical clinical cases that students in small groups must evaluate and solve independently with regard to aspects of pathology, immunopathology and clinical biochemistry.
4) Ability to communicate what has been learned. The ability to communicate the knowledge of pathology and clinical biochemistry using appropriate, up-to-date terminology consistent with the professionalism required for a veterinarian will be acquired and verified during classroom discussions, practical exercises in the laboratories and during meetings in which the aspects of pathology and clinical biochemistry related to the practical clinical cases that the students have assessed independently are discussed collegially. The ability to adequately communicate the following is also verified in the examination by assessing the answers to open-ended questions.
5) Ability to pursue study autonomously throughout life. The knowledge in terms of notions and methodologies and the reasoning skills acquired during teaching and the need to deepen autonomously, also by means of computer tools (querying databases, image research, etc.), some concepts during the elaboration of cases and images provided during the exercises, will enable the student to continue independently the study, deepening and continuous updating of his knowledge in the field of pathological and pathophysiological alterations of organs and apparatuses and methods of clinical biochemical analysis both during his university career and later as a veterinary surgeon.