Overview

The globalization of trade and human movement, the expansion of political and economic uncertainty, the speed, scale and nature of predicted global growth, and a wide range of public health issues, have raised concerns regarding the sustainability and security of animal-source food production systems around the world. Animal disease in farmed livestock is important with regard to food safety, animal welfare, and in view of the economic importance of animal-source food production in many countries. Respiratory disease continues to be one of the greatest sources of loss, and hence lack of sustainability, to livestock production systems around the world. In this course, we will explore the factors that contribute to respiratory disease in livestock systems and practical tools to limit its impact on food system sustainability. We will review the basics of respiratory physiology, immunology, and pathology along with how the commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms interact in food production ecosystems to prevent or promote respiratory disease.

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

Week 1: It's Not About the Bugs

In this first week of the course, we will explore how using a host-centric view of a disease can lead to a greater understanding of respiratory disease in livestock production systems. Lessons this week will provide an overview of all of the key concepts that will be covered in the course to help you understand how each of the aspects of respiratory disease management is interrelated. By the end of the week, you will have a high-level understanding of the knowledge, skills and thought processes needed to successfully manage respiratory disease.

Week 2: Wonderful Airways

This week we will explore the normal function of the lung in a healthy animal. We will use this understanding of normal as a foundation for all of the pathology and disease that we will talk about in the remainder of the course. Subjects covered this week will include: air movement physics, gas exchange, control of the respiratory system, and host defenses in the respiratory tract. We will review both anatomy, physiology and immunology of each of these key processes.

Week 3: Waging War

This week we will explore the pathogens involved in respiratory disease of livestock. By the end of the week you will understand how pathogens interact to create a disease complex, how pathogens cause disease, how cell tropisms affects clinical signs, what pathogens infect the upper and lower airways and what tools we have to understand what pathogens are present. In addition to the main lectures, there are supplemental materials to explore the specifics of important diseases in cattle and swine and resources to help you understand diagnostic assays and sample collection techniques.

Week 4: The Upper Hand

In this week of the course, we delve into the therapeutic management of infectious respiratory disease, with a focus on how antimicrobial selection is informed by pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles. We will examine the critical role of host immune status and tissue pathology in determining treatment outcomes, and consider how management strategies can support host defenses and promote recovery. Through lectures and applied case discussions, you’ll gain practical tools for selecting and using therapeutics effectively in both individual and population-level contexts.