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LSC-10095 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-10095 - Animal Health and Disease
Coordinator: Nawroz Kareem Room: 172 Tel: +44 1782 7 33671
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module, you will explore a range of animal diseases, considering key clinical signs and symptoms applied in the diagnosis of animal disease and wider disease outbreaks. You will be introduced to the procedures of disease diagnosis and how differential diagnoses helps in reaching an accurate outcome, in context to treatment and monitoring. You will develop and apply knowledge of animal physiology to an understanding of the pathophysiology of a range of infectious and non-communicable disease in different animal systems, including commercial livestock and poultry farms, as well as wildlife and companion animals. You will explore the animal-human interface that allows the emergence of pandemic-potential diseases and how different disease control strategies (e.g. vaccination, biosecurity etc.) can be applied in limiting the spreading of disease, as well as how food-borne outbreaks may originate from farmed animals. Collectively the module will introduce core topics in bioveterinary science to support transition to more advanced study in later years of the course. Case-based learning sessions will develop qualities of team-work, leadership and independent study, also fostered through group activities in producing a public-facing infographic and individual structured case report, supporting development of wider communication skills.

Aims
The module aims to provide applied knowledge and skills on healthy and diseased animals with a focus on major infectious, zoonotic, metabolic, and non-communicable diseases of domestic animals (cattle, horses, sheep, and goats), pet animals (dogs and cats), and avian species (commercial poultry, wild birds). The module provides essential background knowledge on infectious and non-communicable diseases of major animal species, their pathogenesis and clinical presentation, and their diagnosis, management, prevention and control, supporting transition to more advanced study in these areas.

Intended Learning Outcomes

distinguish between healthy and sick animals, considering key clinical signs and symptoms including body condition scoring, and ageing (e.g. dentition) of animals, as applied in animal disease diagnosis: 1,2,3
discuss a range of non-communicable diseases of domestic and pet animals affecting different physiological systems (digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and musculoskeletal), including metabolic, neoplastic, degenerative and hereditary diseases: 1,2,3
discuss various infectious diseases of domestic animals and pet animals including their aetiology, clinical presentation, pathology, epidemiology, and prevention and control: 1,2,3
describe important zoonotic diseases of public health importance, including the emergence of infectious diseases at the human-animal-environmental interface and animal origin food-borne disease outbreaks: 2,3
describe the animal herd management and preventive measures for infectious diseases of domestic and pet animals, commercial poultry and wild birds, including biosecurity and biosafety at an introductory level: 2,3
communicate information relating to animal health and disease clearly and effectively in written and visual formats appropriate to the target audience: 3
contribute to case-based learning tutorials, taking responsibility for their own learning and reflect upon that learning: 1,3,4

Study hours

ACTIVE LEARNING HOURS: 111hr
IN-SITU LEARNING ACTIVITIES: Formative case based learning sessions = 2hr
Case based learning sessions (3 session/ case)= 3X4=12hr
Assessment introduction sessions 3X 2hr= 6hr
Drop-in sessions 3X1hr= 3hr
Topics 8X2hr=16hr
ASYNCHRONOUS DIRECTED LEARNING:
8x 6 hours engagement with asynchronous content (including consumption, wider reading and note taking)
4x 6 hours preparation for case-based learning
INDEPENDENT STUDY & ASSESSMENT: 189hr
60 hours completing the case-based report
30 hours completing the infographic
2 hours completing the class test
97 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Creative Brief weighted 20%
Infographic (group communication exercise) on an animal disease
Students will prepare an infographic as a group (pairs or group of 3) on a specific animal disease covered in the first part of the module. The infographic should convey key information on initial signs of illness, to advanced stage clinical outcome including treatment and/or limiting spread of the disease to another animals. Tutorial sessions will support content selection and development of the infographic.

2: Class Test weighted 40%
Closed book class test (1-hour active working in a 2-hour assessment window)
An in-person class test covering the core learning materials from the module, consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer questions designed to assess core knowledge and understanding. The test will have an expected active working time of one hour, with an assessment window of two hours, and will be conducted during the semester. Students will be permitted to take a double-sided A4 memory prompt of notes with them. Formative tests will also be provided to support preparation. Structured questions on analysis of disease conditions, pathogenesis, diagnoses, transmission, health outcome, and management of the diseases will be included.

3: Report weighted 40%
Case based report on selected animal disease of 2000 words
This is a structured case-study assessment on one of the major infectious, zoonotic, or non communicable diseases of animals. Students will select from one of the case studies discussed in the module and produce a structured report detailing the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, differential diagnosis, management, and prevention of the disease (1500 words) and a short (500 words) reflection on their approach to case-based learning sessions throughout the module.

4: Competence weighted 0%
Engagement with preparation and participation with case-based learning
Students will have the opportunity to take on the roles of scribe, chair and group member during tutorials. Students are required to attend and engage; this will be judged by the data generated from the Keele attendance app, and recorded attendance and feedback from the tutor. Students must attend and engage with a minimum of 50% of the scheduled CBL sessions. Reassessment opportunity will be provided if the student does not meet the 50% threshold to pass this component.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025