Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, MI

Description of Elective Experience

PDI 637

Poultry Medicine Clerkship Syllabus

Instructor: R. M. Fulton, D.V.M., Ph.D., dipl. A.C.P.V.

 

Course Objectives:         

  1. Understand modern poultry production and management
  2. Develop a working knowledge of how to diagnose, recommend treatment, and prevention of common poultry diseases.
  3. Improve understanding of pathogenesis of viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal diseases and how that deeper understanding enables a veterinarian to better prevent and treat diseases.
  4. Develop a working knowledge of on-farm biosecurity, the use of disinfectants and how to develop pest (fly and rodent) control programs and their importance as it relates to food safety.
  5. Develop an understanding of the veterinarian’s important role in “farm-to-fork” food safety programs.
  6. Develop an awareness of diseases of other (non-poultry) avian species.

 

 

Course Content:

      This course will consist of didactic lectures (typically given in the morning), laboratory work (poultry necropsies and other diagnostic laboratory visits), and field trips (typically done in the afternoon).

 

Lectures:

Introduction to the poultry production and management

Biosecurity, commercial farms and small flocks

Viral diseases of poultry

Bacterial diseases of poultry

Parasitic diseases of poultry

Fungal and mycotoxin diseases of poultry

Metabolic diseases of poultry

Disinfectants

Diseases of gamebirds (pheasants, quail, partridges...)

Diseases of pet birds

 

Laboratories:

Avian necropsy technique

Necropsy of egg laying chicken mortality

Serology laboratory

 

Field Trips:

Egg laying chicken farm with in-line egg processing plant

Turkey hatchery

Turkey farm

Feed mill

Broiler chicken processing plant

Duck breeder, hatchery, grow out farm and processing plant

Small flock chicken hatchery

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?

Course Objectives:         

  1. Understand modern poultry production and management
  2. Develop a working knowledge of how to diagnose, recommend treatment, and prevention of common poultry diseases.
  3. Improve understanding of pathogenesis of viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal diseases and how that deeper understanding enables a veterinarian to better prevent and treat diseases.
  4. Develop a working knowledge of on-farm biosecurity, the use of disinfectants and how to develop pest (fly and rodent) control programs and their importance as it relates to food safety.
  5. Develop an understanding of the veterinarian’s important role in “farm-to-fork” food safety programs.
  6. Develop an awareness of diseases of other (non-poultry) avian species.

Duties of Student: 

Perform sample (blood, swab and tissue) collection on course and clinical cases.

Perform necropsies on collected daily mortality and clinical cases.

Interpret laboratory results including histopathology.

Case presentation of necropsy cases at weekly Pathology Grand Rounds.

Accompany and assist instructor on flock health evaluations of commercial poultry flocks.

 

Student Housing (include costs, amenities, pet friendly, contact info if different from elective contact info)

Housing and subsistence is the responsibility of the student.

Supervisor
Richard M. Fulton, D.V.M., Ph.D., dipl. A.C.P.V.
Contact email
Address

MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
4125 Beaumont Road
Lansing, MI 48910
United States

Specialties
Animal Type
Practice or Institution Type
Is student housing available?
No
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week
40
Global engagement opportunity
No
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