Animal Viruses: Their Transmission and the Diseases They Produce

Understand what happens to animals when they are affected by viruses

In this free online course, you will learn about animal viruses that affect pets, birds, sheep, cattle, swine and horses, and produce important diseases. These animal diseases may cause huge economic losses to farmers and severe emotional distress to animal owners. They may even be transmitted to humans, posing important questions about their spread and control. The course has been developed by a team at Complutense University of Madrid, who are all experienced in teaching virology and infectious diseases at veterinary schools at Madrid and Alfort.

What topics will you cover?

Introduction to animal viruses, their form and structure (or morphology), and characteristics. Basic information to help understanding viral diseases in animals and humans.
Faecal-oral transmission: using parvoviruses and canine parvovirosis as an example.
Open wounds: focusing on rabies and other zoonotic viruses, which produce diseases in both humans and animals.
Arthropod transmission: viruses that are carried by insects and ticks, and introduced directly into the bloodstream.
Airborne transmission: such as influenza, which may be transmitted from birds and pigs to humans.
Other infections difficult to control because they are persistent: produced by viruses that remain in their host, including herpesvirus and retrovirus.