Avian, Fish, and Exotic Animal Diseases

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Course

PTHB 516

Semester

Spring

Year

2022

Catalog

School of Veterinary Medicine

Faculty and Staff Information

Dave Marancik, DVM, PhD, CertAqVet, Associate Professor Email: dmaranci@sgu.edu
Tel: 473-444-4175 x 3837
Pathobiology Department
Office hours can be arranged with each professor for in-person and Zoom calls and through email for correspondence.

Sophie Moittié, LicVet, DVetMed, Assistant Professor Email: smoittie@sgu.edu

Dr. Dan Johnson, DVM, DABVP, Visiting Professor drdan@avianandexotic.com

Dr. Alfred Chikweto BVM, MSc, PhD Associate Professor Email: achikweto@sgu.edu Tel: 444-4175

Ms. Jonnel Edwards, BSc, MSc, Lab Demonstrator Email: jedward6@sgu.edu

Course Location

Lectures, course material, and schedules can be found online at: https://mycourses.sgu.edu/portal/site/22c04c89-8120-476d-8281-b2099998fc49

Required Resources

St. George’s University, School of Veterinary Medicine, course notes on Diseases of Birds
St. George’s University, School of Veterinary Medicine, course notes on Fish Diseases
St. George’s University, School of Veterinary Medicine, course notes on Avian Diseases
St. George’s University, School of Veterinary Medicine, course notes on Small Companion Mammals
St. George’s University, School of Veterinary Medicine, course notes on Reptiles and Amphibians

Recommended Resources

Diseases of Poultry, Editor-in-chief: David E. Swayne. 13th edition (2013) Willey- Blackwell publication.
BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5^th edition (2010)
Avian Medicine and Surgery in Practice, Companion and Aviary Birds, 2^nd Edition (2016)
Fish Disease, Diagnosis and Treatment, By Edward J. Noga, 2nd Edition (2000), Iowa State University Press
Health, Maintenance and Principal Microbial Diseases of Cultured Fishes, By John A. Plumb, 2nd Edition (1999) Iowa State University Press
Systemic Pathology of Fish, Edited by Hugh W. Ferguson, 2nd Edition (2006) Scotian Press, London
Mader’s Reptile and Amphibians Medicine and Surgery, 3nd Ed (2019)
Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species, B.O’Malley (2005)
Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents-Clinical Medicine and Surgery-2nd Edition, Edited by Kathy Quesenberry, Saunders Company
Laboratory Animal Medicine, 3rd Edition (2015), Elsevier Inc.
Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits, 3rd Edition (2007), Blackwell Publishing

Accommodation

Students who need accommodations should contact Student Accessibility and Accommodations Services (SAAS), located in the Welcome Center, inside the International Students Office.
Information can be found at mycampus.sgu.edu/group/saas

Other Requirements

None

Course Rationale

Non-traditional species represent an important and growing segment of veterinary medicine. This course provides a foundation in etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of avian, fish and exotic animal species. This includes species that are commonly encountered as pets or in the wild, in laboratory settings and in food production. Strategies for species management, care and disease prevention are emphasized.

Course Learning Outcomes

As a result of this course, students are expected to:

Define the unique anatomy and physiology of avian, aquatic animals, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals as it applies to clinical management and disease pathogenesis.
Identify the major pathogens and recognize the clinical signs and lesions associated with common diseases.
Recognize unique husbandry requirements for each group of animals and disease manifestations if conditions are not adequately met.
Determine appropriate diagnostic tests to confirm diagnoses of infectious and non- infectious disease.
Determine treatment and biosecurity strategies in production, research, and pet animal environments including for zoonotic pathogens.

Lesson Learning Outcomes

Lectures	Topic
1	Fish	Describe the various ways in which the veterinary profession are and can become increasingly involved with fish Identify unique anatomy and physiology of fish as it applies to disease response and recognition of clinical signs. Distinguish conditions that predispose fish to infection and disease.
2	Fish	Discuss the important water quality parameters and their impact on fish health Demonstrate how to measure water quality parameters Determine when and how to alter water quality to improve fish health
3	Fish	Distinguish important bacterial diseases of fish and their zoonotic potential Recognize the clinical signs and pathogenic impact that these diseases can have on fish health Identify how to diagnose and treat bacterial diseases of fish
4	Fish	Compare and contrast the important parasitic pathogens of fish including location of infection and disease Describe the methodology used to diagnose and treat parasites of fish
5	Fish	Distinguish important viral diseases of fish Recognize the clinical signs and describe how to diagnose and prevent viral diseases of fish List common non-infectious causes of disease including neoplasia and toxicity
6	Marine Turtles	Describe the basic biology of sea turtles and how that relates to proper husbandry and care in veterinary settings List common causes of trauma in sea turtles and outline steps for trauma response Determine proper handling & transportation procedures for moving sea turtles between the field and hospital Apply safe diagnostic techniques and how to approach a treatment plan
7	Marine Turtles	Describe the unique anatomy and physiology of sea turtles as it applies to anesthesia and surgery List the common indications for surgery in sea turtles Determine proper recovery and pain management protocols post-surgery
8	Reptile/Amphibian	Recall the major anatomical and physiological peculiarities of amphibians Recognize the importance of correct husbandry practices Demonstrate how to perform an amphibian physical exam Be familiar with therapeutical and diagnostic techniques applied to amphibians Identify the major diseases that affect captive amphibians
9	Reptile/Amphibian	Recall the main anatomical peculiarities of reptiles Appreciate the importance of the temperature for reptile physiological processes Be able to make recommendations on reptile terrarium design Apprehend the different nutritional needs of main reptile groups
10	Reptile/Amphibian	Demonstrate adequate restraint techniques for lizards, snakes and chelonians Understand how to perform a physical examination in reptiles Be able to select and apply different diagnostic techniques in reptiles Be familiar with common therapeutic routes in reptiles
11	Reptile/Amphibian	Understand the importance of correct husbandry practices to avoid diseases in reptiles Be familiar with common clinical signs of diseases in reptiles Be able to apply adequate diagnostic techniques in reptiles Describe how to treat selected diseases of reptiles
12	Reptile/Amphibian	Know how to safely and efficiently induce anesthesia in different groups of reptiles Understand the importance of providing analgesia and supportive treatment during surgical procedures in reptiles Describe basic anesthesia monitoring techniques in reptiles List common reptile surgical procedures
13-22	Small Companion Mammals	Identify the medical, physical, husbandry and dietary needs of rabbits, rodents, ferrets, mice and other small mammals. Apply proper examination and diagnostic techniques. Identify and comprehend major diseases of concern for captive and wild species.
23	Companion Birds	Recall the major anatomical peculiarities of birds Understand the physiology of the avian respiratory, digestive, reproductive and urinary systems.
24	Companion Birds	Understand the role of the veterinarian in ensuring captive bird welfare Recognize commonly kept species and their characteristics Learn adequate husbandry practices for pet birds Be able to recommend the best diet for pet birds
25	Companion Birds	Understand the importance of the anamnesis for avian patients Learn how to properly restrain pet birds Demonstrate how to perform a physical examination in a bird Be familiar with simple veterinary procedures commonly performed during the avian consult
26	Companion Birds	Understand the challenges associated with avian hematology Describe the different techniques for blood cell counts in avian patient Recognize the different blood cells in birds Understand the diagnostic value of biochemical parameters used in birds
27	Companion Birds	Select adequate sample techniques for birds Be able to interpret the fecal gram stain of psittacine Recognize adequate positions and view for the bird radiographs and identify normal organ appearances Know the basic protocol for avian post-mortem examination
28	Companion Birds	Understand the role of inadequate nutrition and husbandry in avian non-infectious diseases Describe how to diagnose and manage commonly presented non infectious diseases of birds
29	Companion Birds	Recognize clinical signs associated with common viral diseases in birds Be able to select adequate diagnostic techniques for each suspected viral disease Describe how to prevent the transmission of viral diseases in pet birds
30	Companion Birds	Be familiar with the mode of transmission and clinical signs of common bacterial, parasitic and fungal disease in birds Be able to choose and combine adequate diagnostic methods for selected avian infectious diseases Cite therapeutic options for important bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases of birds
31	Companion Birds	Describe how to induce, maintain and recover a bird safely and effectively Be aware of common causes of anesthetic complications Recognize species-specific features that may influence anesthetic approaches. Be able to provide critical care to avian patients
32	Companion Birds	Be able to choose adequate analgesic drugs for the avian patient Describe the basic principles of avian surgery Be able to select adequate equipment for avian surgical procedures Be familiar with most common surgical procedures performed on pet birds
33	Commercial Birds	Describe different types of management systems of poultry and how they can impact on disease occurrence. Review strains and breeds of commercial chickens. List the benefits of keeping poultry.
34	Commercial Birds	Differentiate the characteristics of motile and non- motile salmonella. Describe the clinical signs, pathology, method of diagnosis and prevention of diseases caused by non-motile salmonella and motile salmonella.
35	Commercial Birds	List species of Mycoplasma causing disease in avian species. Describe the mode of transmission of species of mycoplasma in various avian species. Recognize the clinical signs, pathology, methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention and control of mycoplasma species in avian species.
36	Commercial Birds	Name the diseases caused by Escherichia coli in avian species. Describe the mode of transmission of E. coli Based on clinical signs, mode of transmission, and pathology, differentiate between early embryonic mortality/chick mortality and coli septicemia/airsac disease. Enumerate the method of diagnosis. Describe the prevention and control of E. coli infection in avian species.
37	Commercial Birds	Describe epidemiology of Pastuerella species and Campylobacter species in avian hosts. Describe the mode of transmission, clinical signs, and pathology of fowl cholera. Describe the role of birds in transmission of Campylobacter to humans. Describe methods of diagnosis, prevention, treatment and control of fowl cholera.
38	Commercial Birds	List species of bacteria causing infectious coryza and chlamydiosis in avian species. Describe the mode of transmission of chlamydiosis and infectious coryza in avian species. Describe the clinical signs, pathology and method of diagnosis of Chlamydia and infectious coryza in avian species.
39	Commercial Birds	Explain the classification of NCD virus based on the pathogenicity. Compare and contrast the clinical signs and gross lesions of various pathotypes of NCDV. Describe etiology, mode of transmission and clinical signs of Marek’s disease. Describe prevention and control of NCD and Marek’s disease.
40	Commercial Birds	Describe etiology of avian influenza in various avian species. Differential features of strains in relation to transmission, clinical signs and pathology in different avian species. Describe etiology, clinical signs, lesions, diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious bursal disease.
41	Commercial Birds	Describe etiology and epidemiology of fowl pox, infectious bronchitis (IB) and Egg drop syndrome (EDS 76). List avian species and age groups affected. Describe clinical signs and pathology in various age groups. Describe methods of diagnosis and prevention of fowl pox, IB and EDS 76.
42	Commercial Birds	Describe economic importance of fungal diseases. Describe etiology, clinical signs and pathology of fungal diseases. Describe methods of diagnosis, prevention and control of fungal diseases. Name various deficiency diseases and their economic impact. Describe clinical signs, and pathology of nutritional deficiency diseases. Apply the most suitable treatment for Vitamin E and D deficiencies.

Alignment of Course Learning Outcomes with Program Learning Outcomes

Course level outcome	SGU SVM program level outcome
Define the unique anatomy and physiology of avian, aquatic animals, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals as it applies to clinical management and disease pathogenesis.	Core Medical Knowledge
Identify the major pathogens and non-infectious diseases and recognize the clinical signs and lesions associated with common diseases.	Core Medical Knowledge
Recognize unique husbandry requirements for each group of animals and disease manifestations if conditions are not adequately met.	Core Medical Knowledge
Determine appropriate diagnostic tests to confirm diagnoses of infectious and non-infectious disease.	Core Medical Knowledge
Determine treatment and biosecurity strategies in production, research, and pet animal environments including for zoonotic pathogens.	Core Medical Knowledge

Course Schedule

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
1	1	Tues 18 Jan	Marancik	Aquatic Medicine
	2	Wed 19 Jan	Marancik	Aquatic Medicine
	3	Thurs 20 Jan	Marancik	Aquatic Medicine
	4	Fri 21 Jan	Marancik	Aquatic Medicine

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
2	5	Mon 24 Jan	Edwards	Aquatic Medicine
	6	Tues 25 Jan	Marancik	Aquatic Medicine
	7	Wed 26 Jan	Marancik	Aquatic Medicine
	8	Fri 28 Jan	No class, Case Study Assignment
Aquatic Assignment Due Saturday, 29 Jan at 11:55 pm

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
3		Mon 31 Jan	Quiz 1	Aquatic Medicine
	9	Mon 31 Jan	Moittie	Reptile/Amphibian Med
	10	Thurs 3 Feb	Moittie	Reptile/Amphibian Med

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
4	11	Tues 8 Feb	Moittie	Reptile/Amphibian Med
	12	Thurs 10 Feb	Moittie	Reptile/Amphibian Med
	13	Fri 11 Feb	Moittie	Reptile/Amphibian Med

Week 5: No lectures

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
6	14	Mon 21 Feb	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	15	Tues 22 Feb	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	16	Wed 23 Feb	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	17	Thurs 24 Feb	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	18	Fri 25 Feb	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
7	19	Mon 28 Feb	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	20	Tues 1 March	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	21	Wed 2 March	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	22	Thurs 3 March	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine
	23	Fri 4 March	Johnson	Small Mammal Medicine

Week

Lecture

Day/Date

Topic

Mid-Term

Thurs 10 March

12:00 pm

Reptile/Amphibian Medicine and Small Companion Mammal Medicine

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
9	24	Tues 16 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine
	25	Thurs 17 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
10	26	Mon 21 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine
	27	Tues 22 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
11	28	Mon 28 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine
	29	Tues 29 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine
	30	Wed 30 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine
	31	Thurs 31 March	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
12	32	Mon 4 April	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine
	33	Tues 5 April	Moittie	Companion Bird Medicine
	34	Wed 6 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
	35	Thurs 7 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
Companion Bird Assignment Due Saturday, 9 Moittie at 11:55 pm

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
13	36	Mon 11 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
	37	Tues 12 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
	38	Wed 13 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
	39	Thurs 14 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine

Week	Lecture	Day/Date	Lecturer	Topic
14	40	Tues 19 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
	41	Wed 20 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
	42	Thurs 21 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine
	43	Fri 22 April	Chikweto	Commercial Bird Medicine

Week

Lecture

Day/Date

Topic

Final

Fri 13 May

12:00 pm

Companion and Commercial Bird Medicine

Schedule for Laboratory

Lab Group	Day	Date	Time	Topic/Venue	Lecturer
Group A	Fri	21 Jan	1:30 pm	Fish/AAMRL	Dr. Marancik, Ms. Edwards
Group B	Fri	21 Jan	2:45 pm	Fish/AAMRL	Dr. Marancik, Ms. Edwards
Group C	Fri	21 Jan	4:00 pm	Fish/AAMRL	Dr. Marancik Ms. Edwards

Grading and Assessment Policy

There will be ONE Quiz and TWO examinations (mid-term and final) for the course consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQ’s) administered through Exam Soft. The quiz and examinations shall cover the material described in the lectures and laboratory sessions.

A grade reduction of 5% will be applied to that exam if students do not observe the following parameters listed in the Assessment Policy for Students during exams monitored online:

Avoid talking out loud.
Avoid looking away from the monitor.
Avoid having distractions (animals, people) in or walking through the room or making noise during the exam.
Check that your webcam is recording your full face at all times with adequate lighting.

There will be TWO 10-point assignments given in the Aquatic Animal Medicine and Companion Bird sections. Short answer assignments will be graded with the following rubric.

Criteria	Exemplary 5	Good 4	Acceptable 3	Needs improvement 2	Unacceptable 1	Not present 0	Total Points
Focus		Answer is clearly stated and important points are present. Extraneous information is not given.
Content		Information presented is correct and clearly supports the question.
Organization		Information is arranged logically.
Tone		The tone is consistently professional and appropriate.
Writing mechanics		The writing is free of grammatical and spelling errors.
SCORE / 10 points

All examinations will be sequestered. Students will NOT be provided with an electronic review of the questions they missed. Students can, however, meet with Faculty to go over the topics that they had problems with, not the actual questions. A raw score of the quiz/examination will be given upon exit from SoftTest.

The assessment schedule is as follows:

Quiz 1: 10 points (Aquatic Animal Medicine)

Case Study Assignment 1: 10 points (Aquatic Animal Medicine)

Exam 1 (Mid-Term): 30 Points (Reptiles/Amphibians and Small Companion Mammal Medicine)

Question Assignment: 10 points (Companion Bird Medicine)

Exam 2 (Final): 40 points (Companion and Commercial Bird Medicine) Total points: 100 points

Recommended Study Strategies

Study strategies will vary depending on the instructor, the material provided and the question format in each examination. Please inquire with each instructor for the best way to learn and apply the material. Generally, you will be expected to answer higher order questions and apply the information in a clinical scenario.

Instructor's Expectations of the Student

The student is expected to attend and come prepared to all lectures. This includes reviewing the learning objectives and class notes before each lecture period.

Students should play a proactive role in their education which includes participating in class discussions and asking questions.

Professionalism Statement

Please exhibit professional behavior in class.
Students are expected to arrive on time for lectures and exams.
The consumption of food is not allowed during lectures. Water and non- alcoholic drinks in spill-proof containers are allowed.
The use of mobile phones is not allowed during class and exams. Exceptions to these rules have to be discussed with the course director.
The lecturer may ask students who breach any of the above rules to leave the class.

Attendance/Participation Policy

Lecture and laboratory attendance and absence policies adhere to those outlined in the St. George’s University Student Manual.

Policy Regarding Missing Examinations and/or Failure of Submission of Assignments

Students who fail to attend an examination (Sakai quiz/test or Examsoft) or submit an assignment by the deadline without a valid reason (see student manual: SGUSVM POLICY ON AN EXCUSED ABSENCE (EA) FOR STUDENTS) will receive a score of “0” points for the examination.

Students who have technical issues during the examination MUST inform the Course Director (s) (COURSE DIRECTOR email HERE) and IT (tellexaminationservices@sgu.edu OR support@sgu.edu OR call 1-631-665-8500 ext. 4444 (US, NU, International) OR 1-473- 439-2000 ext. 4444 (Grenada), AND Dean of Students (DOS@sgu.edu) during the open period for the examination. Failure to do so immediately will result in the student receiving the highest score recorded at the time, but NOT being eligible to take a completion examination.

Scheduling of examinations (regular, re-sit, completion, comprehensive, or exemption) is at the discretion of the University. Completion exams will be scheduled within 7 days of the original exam date. Re-sit examination will be scheduled in the first week of the following term.

ExamSoft Policy

All students are responsible for knowing and complying with the University’s Code of Conduct and the guidelines. Students must read and then sign the Honor Code statement at the start of examinations to indicate that they will comply with the University Code of Conduct.

Prior to Exam Day

Each student is required to have a laptop for the purpose of taking computer-based examinations (e-Exams) at SGU. Students must ensure that their laptops meet the current minimum system requirements prior to exam day:
Examinees must use their MY SGU Member Center username and password to access the Custom Home Page (www.examsoft.com/sgu) created by ExamSoft for the University.
Examinees are responsible for downloading and registering the latest version of Examplify on their laptop prior to exam day. Once Examplify has been successfully downloaded, examinees are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the software by downloading and taking practice exams.
Examinees are responsible for setting their laptop up for ExamMonitor prior to the exam (see links below).
Examinees will be notified via MyCourses, of all exam related information. Email notifications will also be sent from ExamSoft Support to examinees, notifying them of examinations available for downloading.
Examinees experiencing difficulties with their laptop are encouraged to visit the IT department for assistance prior to exam day. Examinees needing a laptop must visit the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) to request an exam loaner.
Examinees should visit the following information to familiarize themselves with the online proctored exam format and set up their baseline photo.
1. A Examsoft/ExamID quick guide for students (Please note that the current Examplify version is 2.3.8)
2. The examsoft student perspective video 30mins
3. The Examsoft/ExamID FAQ
4. Examsoft information page
5. The general Reminders/Guidelines

The materials (such as slides, handouts and audio/video recordings) provided to students who are taking courses at St. George’s University (SGU) are the intellectual property of the Faculty and/or Administration of SGU. Students are free to use these materials solely for the purpose of group or individual study. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

School of Veterinary Medicine Master Syllabus — Info for All Sections

ExamSoft Policy

Prior to Exam Day

Each student is required to have a laptop for the purpose of taking computer-based examinations (e-Exams) at SGU. Students must ensure that their laptops meet the current minimum system requirements prior to exam day:
Examinees must use their MY SGU Member Center username and password to access the Custom Home Page (www.examsoft.com/sgu) created by ExamSoft for the University.
Examinees are responsible for downloading and registering the latest version of Examplify on their laptop prior to exam day. Once Examplify has been successfully downloaded, examinees are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the software by downloading and taking practice exams.
Examinees are responsible for setting their laptop up for ExamMonitor prior to the exam (see links below).
Examinees will be notified via MyCourses, of all exam related information. Email notifications will also be sent from ExamSoft Support to examinees, notifying them of examinations available for downloading.
Examinees experiencing difficulties with their laptop are encouraged to visit the IT department for assistance prior to exam day. Examinees needing a laptop must visit the Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) to request an exam loaner.
Examinees should visit the following information to familiarize themselves with the online proctored exam format and set up their baseline photo.
- A Examsoft/ExamID quick guide for students (Please note that the current Examplify version is 2.3.8)
- The Examsoft student perspective video 30mins
- The Examsoft/ExamID FAQ
- Examsoft information page
- The general Reminders/Guidelines

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