Veterinary toxicology - UPWr Syllabus

Veterinary toxicology

Educational subject description sheet

Basic information

Field of study: Veterinary Medicine
Speciality: -
Organizational unit: The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Study level: Long-cycle programme
Study form: Full-time
Education profile: General academic

Education cycle: 2025/26
Subject code: MD000000MWW-AJS.J80BO.2652.25
Lecture languages: english
Mandatory: mandatory
Block: major subjects (conducted) in foreign languages
Disciplines: Veterinary medicine
Subject related to scientific research: Yes
Subject shaping practical skills: No

Teacher responsible for the subject

Błażej Poźniak

Other teachers conducting classes

Błażej Poźniak

Period

Semester 8

Examination

exam

Activities and hours

lecture: 30
laboratory classes: 30

Standard groups

A. Basic sciences, B1. Clinical sciences, B. Professional knowledge

Number of ECTS points

3.0

Goals

C1	Familiarize students with the origin of dangerous poisons for animals and their mechanisms of action, as well as their fate in the organism.
C2	To provide students with knowledge in the field of veterinary clinical toxicology with a focus on issues leading to the correct diagnosis of poisoning, knowledge of symptoms and pathological findings as well as knowledge of laboratory methods of toxicological analysis, protection of material for analysis and conducting a toxicological interview.

Subject's learning outcomes

Code	Outcomes in terms of	Effects	Examination methods
Knowledge – Student knows and understands:
W1	Ways to use veterinary medicinal products to prevent and treat poisoning in animals, and to ensure the safety of the food chain and protect the environment in a toxicological context	O.W5	written exam, written credit, cover letter
W2	Principles of conducting a clinical examination, analysis of clinical symptoms and pathological changes in cases of poisoning.	O.W7	written exam, written credit, cover letter
W3	Kinds of poisoning occurring in animals and principles of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in poisoning	A.W21	written exam, written credit, cover letter
W4	Disorders at the level of tissue, organ, system and organism in the course of poisoning in animals	B.W1	written exam, written credit, cover letter
Skills – Student can:
U1	Analyze and interpret pathological changes as well as the results of laboratory and additional tests, formulate the diagnosis of the disease, including differential diagnosis, and undertake therapeutic or prophylactic measures in cases of poisoning in animals	O.U2	written credit, active participation, cover letter
U2	Plan diagnostic procedures in cases of poisoning in animals	O.U3	written credit, active participation, cover letter
U3	Estimate the toxicological hazard in specific technological groups of farm animals	A.U17	written credit, active participation, cover letter
U4	Collect and secure samples in cases of poisonings	B.U6	written credit, active participation, cover letter
Social competences – Student is ready to:
K1	exhibits responsibility for his/her decisions made in regard to the people, animals and the natural enviroment in the toxicological context	O.K1	active participation
K2	uses the objective sources of information in the assessment of toxicological risks	O.K4	active participation
K3	is ready to act in the conditions of uncertainty and stress while dealing with animal poisonings	O.K10	active participation

Balance of ECTS points

Activity form	Activity hours*
lecture	30
laboratory classes	30
exam participation	2
class preparation	11
exam / credit preparation	11
consultations	6

Student workload	Hours 90	ECTS 3.0
Workload involving teacher	Hours 68	ECTS 2.5
Practical workload	Hours 30	ECTS 1.0

* hour means 45 minutes

Study content

No.	Course content	Activities
1.	1. Introduction to toxicology. Poison and poisoning. 2. Fundamentals of toxicokinetics and mechanisms of action of poisons. 3. Cyanide, selenium, arsenic poisonings, fluorosis. 4. Poisonings with metals, part I. 5. Poisonings with metals, part II. 6. Toxicological significance of pesticides and persistent organic pollutants. 7. Poisonings with mycotoxins. 8. Poisonings caused by animal venoms and toxins produced by cyanobacteria. 9. Plant poisonings, part I. 10. Plant poisonings, part II. 11. Organ toxicity. Haematotoxicity and immunotoxicity. 12. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. 13. Neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and respiratory toxicity. 14. Reproductive toxicity, dermatotoxicity and carcinogenesis. 15. Experimental toxicology and toxicometry.	lecture
2.	1. Preliminary steps in cases of farm animal poisonings. Taking a complete toxicological history and writing a cover letter to the analytical laboratory. 2. Preliminary steps in cases of dog and cat poisonings. Taking a complete toxicological history and writing a cover letter to the analytical laboratory. 3. Principles of collecting samples and shipping them for laboratory tests. Initial assessment, selection of analytical methods, extraction methods, cooperation with a toxicology laboratory. 4. Poisonings with table salt, poisonings with nitrates and nitrites. 5. Urea, ammonia, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide poisonings. 6. Test no 1. 7. Poisonings with insecticides. 8. Poisonings with molluscicides, herbicides and fungicides. 9. Poisonings with rodenticides. 10. Clinical treatment of acute poisonings in animals. 11. Test no 2. 12. Poisonings with selected drugs. 13. Poisonings with psychoactive drugs and human foods. 14. Poisonings with selected household chemical products. 15. Test no 3. Test retakes.	laboratory classes

No.

Course content

Activities

1. Introduction to toxicology. Poison and poisoning.

2. Fundamentals of toxicokinetics and mechanisms of action of poisons.

3. Cyanide, selenium, arsenic poisonings, fluorosis.

4. Poisonings with metals, part I.

5. Poisonings with metals, part II.

6. Toxicological significance of pesticides and persistent organic pollutants.

7. Poisonings with mycotoxins.

8. Poisonings caused by animal venoms and toxins produced by cyanobacteria.

9. Plant poisonings, part I.

10. Plant poisonings, part II.

11. Organ toxicity. Haematotoxicity and immunotoxicity.

12. Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

13. Neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and respiratory toxicity.

14. Reproductive toxicity, dermatotoxicity and carcinogenesis.

15. Experimental toxicology and toxicometry.

lecture

1. Preliminary steps in cases of farm animal poisonings. Taking a complete toxicological history and writing a cover letter to the analytical laboratory.

2. Preliminary steps in cases of dog and cat poisonings. Taking a complete toxicological history and writing a cover letter to the analytical laboratory.

3. Principles of collecting samples and shipping them for laboratory tests. Initial assessment, selection of analytical methods, extraction methods, cooperation with a toxicology laboratory.

4. Poisonings with table salt, poisonings with nitrates and nitrites.

5. Urea, ammonia, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide poisonings.

6. Test no 1.

7. Poisonings with insecticides.

8. Poisonings with molluscicides, herbicides and fungicides.

9. Poisonings with rodenticides.

10. Clinical treatment of acute poisonings in animals.

11. Test no 2.

12. Poisonings with selected drugs.

13. Poisonings with psychoactive drugs and human foods.

14. Poisonings with selected household chemical products.

15. Test no 3. Test retakes.

laboratory classes

Course advanced

Teaching methods:

case analysis, educational film, teamwork, discussion, lecture, classes

Activities	Examination methods	Percentage in subject assessment
lecture	written exam	50%
laboratory classes	written credit, active participation, cover letter	50%

Additional info

To take the exam, one must obtain a positive grade in the exercises and pass the cover letter. The grade for the exercises is the average of the grades obtained for all partial tests. The final grade is the average grade from the exercises and the exam. All partial grades must be positive.

Entry requirements

Veterinary pharmacology I, II, Pathomorphology I, II, Clinical and laboratory diagnostics I, II

Literature

Obligatory

Gupta R.C. ed. Veterinary Toxicology, 3rd ed. Academy Press, 2018
Klaassen, Curtis D., ed. Casarett and Doull's toxicology: the basic science of poisons, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill Education, 2021.
Peterson, M. E., Talcott, P. A. Small animal toxicology. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2013

Optional

Hovda, L.R., Brutlag, A., Poppenga, R.H., Peterson, K. Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Small Animal Toxicology, 2nd ed. Willey-Blackwell, 2016.