Comparative Stream III

VET 432C: Comparative Stream III

VET 432C examines infectious and parasitic diseases across veterinary species. Students learn pathogenic organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites), their species-specific manifestations, diagnostic techniques, and treatment/prevention strategies. Zoonotic disease surveillance, epidemiology, and public health implications are emphasized. Case studies illustrate how identical pathogens produce different clinical presentations depending on host species, immunity, and environmental factors.

Focus Areas

• Bacterial infections: streptococcal sepsis, leptospirosis, brucellosis (species variations)
• Viral diseases: rabies, distemper, FeLV/FIV (cats), bovine viral diarrhea (cattle)
• Fungal infections: aspergillosis (birds), coccidioidomycosis (dogs/cattle)
• Parasitic diseases: helminths, protozoa, arthropod vectors
• Zoonotic disease epidemiology and public health reporting
• Diagnostic tests: serology, culture, PCR, imaging
• Treatment and prevention: antimicrobials, antiparasitics, vaccination