Animal, Human and Environmental Health

The research line Animal, Human and Environmental Health adds the concept of Unique Health, whether considering the three areas inseparably or taking an action which focus on one specific area.

The concept of animal health covers animal diseases and the interaction between animal welfare and health, as well as human health and food safety. It is understood that professionals working in this area should seek to preserve the health of animals and prevent diseases, aiding and promoting the protection of public health, the environment and national economy. In addition, the growing possibilities of diagnosing diseases in Veterinary Medicine, added to the emergence of diseases, make an accurate view of animal health crucial. This concept of Animal Health encompasses any scientific study on veterinary clinic, surgery and anesthesiology; search for aetiological agent (be it viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic); epidemiology and prevention of diseases of zootechnical and public health interest; zoonotic microorganisms; treatment protocols; therapeutic processes, products and procedures; therapeutics in animal experimentation, toxicology.

This research line also proposes to take actions with an intersectoral collaborative focus on the prevention, detection and control of endemic and epidemic diseases of humans and animals. It covers the concept of unique health, in which research projects focused on the study of zoonoses and their relationship with the environment of animal and human communities take place.

This research line is comprised, in terms of student education, by the mandatory subjects:
1.  Research Project Writing and Analysis;
2.  Seminars;
3.  Experimental statistics applied to animal science.

This research line is comprised, in terms of student education, by the optional subjects:

1.  Teaching Activity in Animal Health and Production;
2.  Molecular Biology and Genetics of Microorganisms;
3.  Parasitic diseases in domestic animals;
4.  Advanced topics in veterinary ophthamology;
5.  Epidemiological and Veterinary Public Health Fundamentals Applied to the Infectious Diseases Study;
6.  Diagnostic Techniques Applied to Animal Health.

The student enrolled in this line will be able to choose, according to its interest and consent of the advisor, the optional subjects that best suit their formation and qualification. The offer of optional subjects will be characterized by flexibility, providing the student with possibilities to compose their own syllabus, in agreement with the advisor professor and the need for further research.