FOUNDATIONS OF DISEASE SIX - PATHOLOGY OF THE UROLOGICAL AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module introduces the student to the pathology of the urinary and reproductive systems, including the infectious disease agents that affect them. The changes to the urinary and reproductive systems seen with disease or invasion by viruses, microbes, parasites and fungal agents will be introduced. These diseases will be presented in context of One Health and underpinned with clinical case examples introducing clinical pathology results from the various veterinary species.

Module provider

School of Veterinary Medicine

Module Leader

ASFOR Amin (Vet Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Pathology of the urinary and reproductive systems – infectious, inflammatory, immune-mediated, toxics, congenital disorders, degenerative conditions




Pathology of the urinary and reproductive systems – neoplasia




Congenital abnormalities of the urinary and reproductive systems




Pathology and pathogenesis of infectious pathogens causing urinary and reproductive systems diseases




Venereal transmission of infectious pathogens




Pathogenesis of infectious diseases causing Infertility, sterility and/or abortion




Important bacterial pathogens – reproductive system: Salmonella, Taylorella, Brucella, Chlamydia and Chlamydophila




Important parasites affecting the reproductive system: Protozoa: Tritrichomonas, Toxoplasma and Neospora




Pathogenesis of viral examples affecting reproductive system: Parvoviridae, Herpesviridae, Arteriviridae (PRRS)




 




Sexual transmission of retro-viruses: HIV and animal examples




Transplacental transmission: Pestiviruses




New emerging diseases: Schmallenberg virus




Pathology of Disorders of Sexual development – female and male




 




Pathology of infectious and non-infectious diseases of female and male reproductive organs




Pathology of the Failure of Pregnancy




Neoplastic diseases of the reproductive tract - female




Pathology of male reduced fertility and sterility




Neoplastic diseases of the reproductive tract - male




Pathology of infectious diseases and neoplasia of mammary glands




Toxins effecting the reproductive tract (Ergotism etc)




Commonly encountered bacterial urinary tract infections (E. coli, Clostridum perfringens Leptospira etc.)




Infectious diseases with renal toxicity – parasites of the urinary tract




Common gross and histopathological findings in the kidney




Pathology of renal failure – uraemia, nephrotic syndrome




Renal responses to injury




Developmental abnormalities of the kidney and lower urinary tract




Immune-mediated glomerulonephritis




Renal toxins and pathological effects – ethylene glycol, NSAIDs, cyclophosphamide




Urolithiasis and nutrition




Neoplasia of the urinary tract




Nutritional pathology – the pathobiochemistry of dietary imbalances - biochemical & nutritional basis of disease; the use of biochemical tests for screening, diagnosis and management




Practicals

Gross pathology and histopathology of the urinary tract – male and female – 4 hours




Gross pathology and histopathology of the reproductive tract – male, female – 4 hours




PBL cases – 6 hours

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Problem Based Learning  - alternative assessment to the group oral presentation is an individual oral presentation 

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• Practical skills in examining, recognising, describing and interpreting gross and microscopic specimens


• Record writing ability and understanding and use of terminology


• Encourage teamwork and participation in group learning both in the practical sessions and the PBL cases.


• Content knowledge of general pathology and infectious and non-infectious disease mechanisms

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

PBL oral group presentation– 10%

Examination - 90%

(Exam Units are onsite closed-booked invigilated fixed-time assessments. They are delivered through SurreyLearn using campus PC Labs)

Formative assessment and feedback

Instructor and peer assessments

Formative practical report 

 

Module aims

• Introduces the terminology of systemic urinary and reproductive pathology based on aetiopathogenesis, and gross and microscopic appearance of non-infectious and infectious lesions
• Increase the students ability to recognise, describe and interpret the abnormal and write a meaningful report of findings using the appropriate terminology and methods to record findings 

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Provide infectious and non-infectious disease pathology in the context of One health, One medicine


• Allow students to develop skills in examining specimens, describing and interpreting them.


• Provide students with the skills to record pathological findings using appropriate terminology

The learning and teaching methods include:

Lectures, flipped classroom, small group sessions, PBL cases, practical classes using microscopy and anatomic pathologic specimens, images.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: VMS2006

Other information

The Surrey Framework consist of the attributes: employability, global and cultural capabilities, digital capabilities, sustainability and resourcefulness and resilience. This module includes the following key topics which further develop one or more of the attributes as indicated. 

• Global and cultural capabilities - Veterinary students will develop intercultural awareness and informed views on global, social and ethical issues related to their discipline. Veterinary students will develop competencies to engage effectively with people from different backgrounds in ways that respects the interests of cultural groups and individual rights. They will develop appreciation of a diversity of cultural experience and ways of relating to others without stereotyping during their professional activities. e.g. Zoonotic and diseases of worldwide importance are covered in this module to increase the global and culture capabilities and to develop their intercultural awareness. 
• Digital capabilities - Students will develop and will be able to demonstrate digital capabilities most relevant to the veterinary profession. e.g. students develop their digital capabilities through online exams, practical reports as a pdf formate, delivering  PowerPoint presentation in PBL to develop the skills and enhance the digital capabilities. 
• Employability - Each veterinary student will develop a set of individual, interpersonal, and professional skills, which are relevant to their veterinary profession, veterinary career ambitions, and employability. e.g. Practical sessions provide hands on experience.  Group presentation to peers and teachers as PBL, SAQ/ MCQ demonstrate core knowledge required for Veterinary profession.
• Resourcefulness and resilience - Students will develop independence, agility, reflectiveness, self-awareness, proactivity and self-regulation appropriate for their veterinary professional life. this module builds on VMS1005 Problem-based learning, teamwork, practicals prepares students for clinical years. 
• Sustainability - Veterinary students will develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes needed to work, live and lead in a way that meets current needs of the profession without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. e.g. focus on production animal species health, Zoonotic and diseases of worldwide importance eg Leptospira.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.