WILDLIFE POPULATION HEALTH CLINICAL ELECTIVE
PARA5410
DESCRIPTION: A clinical elective during which the student is exposed to many aspects of wildlife population health. Students will participate in field and laboratory projects, attend meetings of staff to discuss research projects, and conduct a library project on a salient disease topic.
PREREQUISITES: Course coordinator’s approval (due to space limitations); minimal time commitment of three consecutive weeks.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: Acquaint the student with 1) the role of veterinarians in maintenance of healthy wildlife populations; 2) the interaction of wildlife management and wildlife health; and 3) examples of major diseases of free-ranging wildlife. (NOTE: Treatment of individual animals is NOT an aspect of this course.)
TOPICAL OUTLINE
Major diseases in free-ranging wildlife
Diagnosis, surveillance, research, and management of diseases in wildlife
Policy and regulatory aspects of disease issues in wildlife
INSTRUCTORS
Name Room
Number Email Phone
John R. Fischer,
DVM, PhD Wildlife Health jfischer@vet.uga.edu 542-1741 (W)
Course Coordinator 543-3620
(H)
W. R. Davidson, PhD Wildlife Health rdavidso@vet.uga.edu 542-1741
David E.
Stallknecht, PhD Wildlife
Health dstall@vet.uga.edu 542-1741
Daniel Mead, PhD,
MPH Wildlife Health dmead@vet.uga.edu 542-1741
Joseph L. Corn, PhD Wildlife Health jcorn@vet.uga.edu 542-1741
GRADING
Students are expected
to abide by the academic honesty policies and guidelines outlines in the
College of Veterinary Medicine Student Handbook and in “A Culture of Honesty,”
the University’s policy and procedures for handling cases of suspected
dishonesty (available at www.uga.edu/ovpi).
Grading will be based on performance during this clinical rotation as determined by a student’s understanding of disease processes in animals; understanding of approaches to investigating diseases in free-ranging wildlife to determine cause, epidemiology, and population impact; participation in SCWDS laboratory and field activities; and a literature review and newsletter article on a salient wildlife disease-related topic assigned by the course coordinator. The student will be evaluated by the SCWDS instructors and others who work with him/her during the elective. Emphasis of the evaluation will be on participation in SCWDS laboratory and field activities, proficiency in the understanding and investigation of diseases in wildlife, and completion of the library assignment.
SCHEDULE
Schedules will vary
according the laboratory and field projects being conducted by SCWDS at the
time of each elective. The library
project will be completed by the student when he/she is not participating in
other SCWDS activities. Discussion
topics may be tailored to the individual student’s interest as chosen from the
list below.
Week 1 Review of SCWDS informational materials on diseases in free-ranging wildlife including their pathology, epidemiology, and management. Additionally, the student will participate in SCWDS laboratory and field activities and conduct library project.
Week 2 Continued review of SCWDS informational materials on diseases in free-ranging wildlife. Participation in SCWDS laboratory and field projects including diagnostic investigations of causes of morbidity and mortality of wildlife, disease inter-relationships between wildlife and domestic animals or humans, and surveillance for parasites and disease agents in wildlife. Continued library work.
Week 3 Continued review of SCWDS informational materials on diseases in free-ranging wildlife. Participation in SCWDS laboratory and field projects including diagnostic investigations of causes of morbidity and mortality of wildlife, disease inter-relationships between wildlife and domestic animals or humans, and surveillance for parasites and disease agents in wildlife. Completion of library project.
POTENTIAL DISCUSSION TOPICS
Significant diseases of free-ranging wildlife
Gross and microscopic pathology of diseases in wildlife
Population aspects of diseases in wildlife
Molecular diagnosis and epidemiology of diseases in wildlife
Emerging diseases involving wildlife
Zoonotic disease agents in wildlife
The wildlife/livestock disease interface
Management of diseases in wildlife
Policy and regulatory aspects of wildlife disease issues
Wildlife aspects of animal emergency disease eradication operations
Health risks associated with translocation of wildlife
Health risks associated with captive wildlife and exotic species
Special topics (arranged based on interest of individual student)