General Microbiology, Immunology and Farming Hygiene
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course (with lectures and practical activities) aims to provide the student with the main notions of general microbiology, immunology and hygiene, dealing with the main characteristics of the different classes of microorganisms, the main components of the innate and adaptive immune system and the different types of the immune response, with fundaments of diagnostics, and also providing basic elements of biosecurity, prevention, prophylaxis, and control of the main infectious diseases of domestic animals.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should have acquired basic theoretical and practical knowledge on the main characteristics of microorganisms, the immune response, the most common techniques of microbiological diagnostics, and the fundamental rules of biosecurity, prevention, prophylaxis and control of infectious diseases of domestic animals.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
The student, with the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during the course, should be able to know the characteristics of most of the microorganisms and their impact on the health and immune status of animals; the student should also be able to evaluate the right application of the measures of hygiene and prevention of infectious diseases.
3. Making judgments
At the end of the course, the student should be able to recognize the characteristics of different microorganisms as well as the functional mechanisms of reaction of the immune system against pathogens, and discern direct and indirect risk factors related to the appearance of an infectious pathology in domestic animals and apply the most appropriate interventions to contain or get rid of it.
4. Communication
Based on what has been learned from the course, the student should be able to explain the acquired knowledge simply and clearly using correct and appropriate scientific terminology.
5. Lifelong learning skills
The student should demonstrate to have gained the ability to use the acquired knowledge to react to unexpected situations involving microorganisms in relation to animals and the environment with the critical awareness of risks and remedies, using available source of knowledge and a good individual method.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
The student, with the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during the course, should be able to know the characteristics of most of the microorganisms and their impact on the health and immune status of animals; the student should also be able to evaluate the right application of the measures of hygiene and prevention of infectious diseases.
3. Making judgments
At the end of the course, the student should be able to recognize the characteristics of different microorganisms as well as the functional mechanisms of reaction of the immune system against pathogens, and discern direct and indirect risk factors related to the appearance of an infectious pathology in domestic animals and apply the most appropriate interventions to contain or get rid of it.
4. Communication
Based on what has been learned from the course, the student should be able to explain the acquired knowledge simply and clearly using correct and appropriate scientific terminology.
5. Lifelong learning skills
The student should demonstrate to have gained the ability to use the acquired knowledge to react to unexpected situations involving microorganisms in relation to animals and the environment with the critical awareness of risks and remedies, using available source of knowledge and a good individual method.
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
Course syllabus
The LECTURES of GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY include:
Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. General characteristics of microorganisms (3 hours)
Morphology, structure, and function of the bacterial cell (2 hours)
Morphology and structure of viruses (3 hours)
Methods for observing and studying microorganisms (1 hour)
Bacterial reproduction (3 hours)
Viral replication (2 hours)
Bacterial growth and diagnostic bacteriology (3 hours)
Viral cultivation and diagnostic virology (2 hours)
Bacterioscopic examination and staining. Antibiotics and antibiograms (2 hours)
Bacterial pathogenicity factors (2 hours)
Bacterial genetic recombination (2 hours)
Classification of bacteria and viruses. Bacteriophages, fungi, and atypical microorganisms (1 hour)
Physical and chemical agents for microbial control (2 hours)
Prions and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1 hour)
The immune system: antigens and immunogens (1 hour)
Innate immunity (2 hours)
Adaptive immunity: lymphoid organs and lymphocytes (1 hour)
Humoral immunity (2 hours)
Cell-mediated immunity (2 hours)
Local and mucosal immunity. Passive immunity (natural, artificial, neonatal). Effects of stress and aging on the immune system (1 hour)
Vaccines and vaccination (2 hours)
The LECTURES OF FARMING HYGIENE include:
Interaction between pathogens, environment, and host (3 hours)
Reservoirs and sources of infection (3 hours)
Basic concepts in the epidemiology of infectious diseases (4 hours)
Introduction to biosafety (2 hours)
Objectives and implementation of hygienic control systems (6 hours)
Disinfection techniques and technologies (3 hours)
Principles of control and eradication of infectious diseases in animals (3 hours)
The PRACTICAL CLASSES of GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY include:
Organization of the microbiology laboratory and equipment. Preparation of dilutions (4 hours)
Bacterial observation and staining; in vitro bacterial growth (4 hours)
Bacterial identification techniques and antibiogram testing (4 hours)
Cell culture techniques and observation of virus-induced cytopathic effects (4 hours)
Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. General characteristics of microorganisms (3 hours)
Morphology, structure, and function of the bacterial cell (2 hours)
Morphology and structure of viruses (3 hours)
Methods for observing and studying microorganisms (1 hour)
Bacterial reproduction (3 hours)
Viral replication (2 hours)
Bacterial growth and diagnostic bacteriology (3 hours)
Viral cultivation and diagnostic virology (2 hours)
Bacterioscopic examination and staining. Antibiotics and antibiograms (2 hours)
Bacterial pathogenicity factors (2 hours)
Bacterial genetic recombination (2 hours)
Classification of bacteria and viruses. Bacteriophages, fungi, and atypical microorganisms (1 hour)
Physical and chemical agents for microbial control (2 hours)
Prions and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1 hour)
The immune system: antigens and immunogens (1 hour)
Innate immunity (2 hours)
Adaptive immunity: lymphoid organs and lymphocytes (1 hour)
Humoral immunity (2 hours)
Cell-mediated immunity (2 hours)
Local and mucosal immunity. Passive immunity (natural, artificial, neonatal). Effects of stress and aging on the immune system (1 hour)
Vaccines and vaccination (2 hours)
The LECTURES OF FARMING HYGIENE include:
Interaction between pathogens, environment, and host (3 hours)
Reservoirs and sources of infection (3 hours)
Basic concepts in the epidemiology of infectious diseases (4 hours)
Introduction to biosafety (2 hours)
Objectives and implementation of hygienic control systems (6 hours)
Disinfection techniques and technologies (3 hours)
Principles of control and eradication of infectious diseases in animals (3 hours)
The PRACTICAL CLASSES of GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY include:
Organization of the microbiology laboratory and equipment. Preparation of dilutions (4 hours)
Bacterial observation and staining; in vitro bacterial growth (4 hours)
Bacterial identification techniques and antibiogram testing (4 hours)
Cell culture techniques and observation of virus-induced cytopathic effects (4 hours)
Prerequisites for admission
No specific prerequisites are required
Teaching methods
The course is delivered through lectures and practical laboratory sessions. Laboratory activities include both individual and group work.
Teaching Resources
The reference textbook is:
Poli G., Dall'Ara P., Martino P.A. (2017). Microbiologia e Immunologia Veterinaria, 3rd edition, Edra.
All the slides used during the course are made available by the teachers on the MyAriel platform.
Poli G., Dall'Ara P., Martino P.A. (2017). Microbiologia e Immunologia Veterinaria, 3rd edition, Edra.
All the slides used during the course are made available by the teachers on the MyAriel platform.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning assessment will be conducted orally through both open-ended and closed questions covering the topics addressed in lectures and practical sessions.
Evaluation criteria include the accuracy of responses, depth of understanding, ability to make connections between topics, and clarity and appropriateness of language.
The final grade is expressed out of thirty and is communicated to the student immediately following the oral examination.
Evaluation criteria include the accuracy of responses, depth of understanding, ability to make connections between topics, and clarity and appropriateness of language.
The final grade is expressed out of thirty and is communicated to the student immediately following the oral examination.
VET/05 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS - University credits: 9
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 64 hours
Lessons: 64 hours
Professors:
Lauzi Stefania, Turin Lauretta
Professor(s)
Reception:
every day (with previous appointment by e-mail)
Lodi, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS)
Reception:
Monday 9:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Polo Lodi