Curricular Training Tracks and Research lines

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

The area of Preventive Veterinary Medicine is aimed at training professionals capable of working with the diagnosis, control and prevention of diseases that affect animal populations, being linked to the study of health, diseases and their prevention in various mammals, birds and fish, in addition to quantitatively studying health-disease phenomena in animal populations.

a) Microbiology
Promote animal health by investigating infectious and contagious diseases in livestock in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; identify and characterize pathogens associated with diseases in cattle and swine; improve and develop diagnostic tests; contribute to the control and prevention of endemic and reemerging diseases in the State; and investigate clinical cases to recognize and respond to emerging infectious diseases.

b) Epidemiology
The Epidemiology line understands the influence of environmental, social and economic factors on animal health, seeking to address modern concepts in veterinary epidemiology, understanding the ways of maintaining and transmitting infectious diseases in animal populations, developing critical thinking about the design of analytical studies and the application of statistical tests, learn and apply health indicators in animal populations, reason and apply basic methodologies for epidemiological investigation. It provides subsidies so that the student can understand how the Animal Health Defense promotes programs for the eradication and / or control of diseases of livestock in Brazil, as well as their interaction and participation in the process of health control provided for in the agreements for the import or export of live animals, their products and materials of genetic multiplication (semen and embryos), in international trade to which Brazil is a signatory.

Veterinary Pathology

The area of Animal Pathology addresses the mechanisms that cause the main infectious, parasitic, neoplasic and toxic diseases of domestic animals, as well as factors related to professional intervention to better control these diseases and improve the prognosis. The characterization of pathological mechanisms provides subsidies for a better understanding of diseases and a more complete approach to the clinical problem.

a) Pathophysiology of Animal Diseases
Conduct research that can contribute to the knowledge of the mechanisms of diseases and pathological processes that affect animals.

b) Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases
Identification and characterization of the main parasitic and vector diseases that affect animals, and, eventually, can be transmitted to humans. The main focus of our group are the problems caused by ticks and tick-borne diseases. These diseases cause great losses to Brazilian and worldwide livestock, and can cause serious disturbances to human beings. In addition, these diseases fall within the definition of neglected tropical diseases, representing one of the greatest health challenges to be faced by developing countries, especially those located in the neotropics. We hope that our research can collaborate in understanding the biology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, control and prevention of these diseases. The works range from field research (applied) to basic research (parasite-host relationship).