Lab Diagnostics

Lab Diagnostics: Clinical Pathology and Infectious Diseases in Dogs and Cats

registration open

 

23.10.2023 – 27.10.2023

Novara / Italy

EURO 2.550.-*

EURO 2.450.-* (early registration deadline: 08.05.2023)

* eLibrary access is included in the course fee

Total hours: 40
ATF hours (Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland): TBA
ECTS credits (Master & Certificate): 5

Principal Course Master:

Prof. Dr. Eric Zini, Dipl. ECVIM-CA (IT)

Course Masters:

Prof. Dr. Saverio Paltrinieri, Dipl. ECVCP (IT)
Dr. Barbara Willi, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM and ECVIM-CA (CH)
Dr. Cristina Perez Vera, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM and ECVIM-CA (ES)

Course Overview

The week dedicated to “clinical pathology and infectious diseases” will provide the practitioner with a throughout understanding of the most appropriate diagnostic approach to infectious diseases, including the selection of direct tests (i.e., cytology or molecular biology), indirect tests (e.g., serology, including the use of in-house or patient-side kits) and a comprehensive overview of clinico-pathological findings, with special emphasis on clinical chemistry. The combination of the above information is expected to provide the participants with an invaluable tool to solve daily problems related to infectious diseases in pets, using an integrated laboratory approach.
Whenever possible, the clinico-pathological and serological/molecular techniques will be presented through interactive case-based lectures; the participants will be asked to suggest the combination(s) of tests that are necessary to complete the diagnostic workup for cases with suspected infectious diseases. Clinical cases will also provide the opportunity for the lecturers to present slides summarizing the pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical and laboratory findings, as well as the recommended diagnostic workup, for each infectious disease. Last but not least, the lecturers of this course are among the most renowned worldwide, and with a very strong track record in small animal infectiology.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the week, the participant will be able to:
– diagnose frequent and less frequent infectious diseases of dogs and cats;
– provide a list of differential diagnoses for each clinical and laboratory finding that are associated, among the other conditions, to infectious diseases;
– select the most appropriate test to confirm or exclude infectious diseases.

Prerequisite:

The week provides cutting-edge knowledge about infectious diseases and clinical pathology of dogs and cats. Any veterinarian that struggles with the interpretation of laboratory findings is expected to benefit from the course.

Course program (subject to change)

All days are organized in 2 slots of approximately 2 hours each in the morning (8-30-10.30 and 11.00-13.00) and in the afternoon (14.00-16.00 and 16.30-18.30). During each slot lecturers will present clinical cases to discuss the following topics:

Monday, 23/10/23
• Principles of clinico-pathological testing (e.g., selection of the most informative tests based on the clinical presentation) and illustrative cases pertaining to the most frequent laboratory abnormalities detected in routine practice, with special emphasis on in infectious diseases (Saverio Paltrinieri).
Tuesday, 24/10/23
• Principles, pros and cons of serological, molecular and cytological testing for infectious diseases (Saverio Paltrinieri).
• Leptospirosis (Cristina Perez Vera).
• Canine respiratory disease complex (Cristina Perez Vera).
• Leishmaniasis diagnosis and monitoring through laboratory testing in dogs (+ notes on feline leishmaniasis) (Saverio Paltrinieri).
Wednesday, 25/10/23
• Vector borne diseases in dogs: ehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, hepatozoonosis, tick-borne encephalitis (Cristina Perez Vera).
• Vector borne diseases in cats: mycoplasmosis, anaplasmosis, Cytauxoonosis (Barbara Willi).
• Bartonellosis and Dirofilariasis (Cristina Perez Vera).
Thursday, 26/10/23
• Viral diseases of cats: FIV and FeLV (Barbara Willi).
• Viral diseases of cats: herpesvirus, calicivirus (Barbara Willi).
• Viral diseases of cats: feline infectious peritonitis, molecular techniques and treatment. (Barbara Willi and Saverio Paltrinieri).
Friday, 27/10/23
• Parvovirus in dogs and in cats (Cristina Perez Vera).
• Prudent use of antibiotics in viral diseases: use of antibiotics in parovirosis vs. non-urgent cases, conventional and innovative bacteriological approaches, including identification of antibiotic resistant microorganisms and reading antibiograms (Barbara Willi).
• Difference between infectious and immune-mediated diseases: use of immunological testing to detect auto-antibodies, pros and cons in case of infectious diseases (Barbara Willi).

Course location

Istituto di Chirurgia Anatomica/AniCura Istituto Veterinario Novara, Granozzo con Monticello-Novara (Italy)