By the end of this unit, students will be able to…-                      Describe what it means for an animal to be ‘healthy’.-                      Determine the difference between an infectious and a noninfectious disease.-                      Determine the difference between a contagious and a non-contagious disease.-                      Define: disease, pathogen, host, vector, virulence, environment.-                      Summarize how a host’s defense mechanisms prevent a disease from occurring and why these mechanisms sometimes break down.-                      Identify and explain the parts of a disease triangle and how they affect disease transmission.-                      Summarize the difference between resistance and immunity.-                      Summarize the difference between active and passive immunity as well as natural and artificial active immunity.-                      Explain how antigens and antibodies interact in order to create immunity in an organism.-                      Summarize how herd immunity works and how it affects the health of a group of organisms.-                      Define and explain the differences between each of the following:-                      a. Pandemic   b. Endemic   c. Epidemic   d. Zoonotic-                      Identify and categorize each of the following by the unique characteristics and identifying traits:o   a. Bacteria   b.  Viruses   c.  Fungi   d.  Protozoa   e.  Helminth-                      Define a prion and explain the characteristics that make this class of pathogens unique.-                      Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.-                      Summarize how to classify bacteria, including by shape, aerobic/anaerobic, and by gram stain.-                      Compare and contrast the differences between gram negative and gram positive bacteria, particularly in regards to cell membranes and cell walls, susceptibility to antibiotics, and endotoxins vs. exotoxins.-                      Compare and contrast the properties of endotoxins vs. those of exotoxins.-                      Summarize the properties of peptidoglycan and relate how these properties affect the susceptibility of some bacteria to antibiotics.-                      Summarize the properties and characteristics of the membrane outside of the cell wall of some bacteria in regards to susceptibility to antibiotics, infection of a host, and resistance to host defenses.-                      Summarize how a bacterial infection can lead to the death of a host via sepsis and septic shock.-                      Explain why a virus is not considered to be a living species.-                      Summarize how viral reproduction occurs.-                      Compare and contrast a retrovirus to a standard virus.-                      Identify the kingdom of life in which fungi are classified.-                      Summarize the key traits of protozoa.-                      Explain how the symptoms diseases caused by helminths differ from many other pathogens.-                      Outline the method by which a prion causes a disease and identify practices that increase the likelihood of a prion infection.-                      Describe the existing treatments and/or cures for a prion disease.-                      Summarize the mechanisms and strategies that comprise each of the following: a. continual forms of nonspecific immunity; b. selective forms of nonspecific immunity; c. specific immunity.-                      Compare and contrast the properties of the three kinds of continual nonspecific immunity, including: a. mechanical; b. physical; c. chemical. -                      Summarize the identifying characteristics of all forms of selective nonspecific immunity, including: a. Phagocytosis  b.  Inflammation  c.  Pyrexia  d.  Protective proteins  e.  NK Cells-                      Summarize the function of interferons and complement proteins.-                      Summarize how specific immunity differs from all forms of nonspecific immunity.-                      Explain how the body uses antigens and antibodies to fight a disease.-                      Identify the key traits that comprise each of the following: a.   Genetic specific immunity    b.  Acquired specific immunity   c.  Nonspecific immunity-                      Summarize the difference between active acquired immunity and passive acquired immunity.-                      Explain how a vaccination works to reduce the rate of contraction of a disease.-                      Identify the key characteristics of each of the following kinds of vaccinations:o   a. Live    b.  Killed/Inactivated   c.  Toxoid   d.  Biosynthetic-                      Define colostrum, and explain why it is a valuable part of a production animal operation.-                      Summarize why adult vaccination is necessary for herd health using examples.-                      Define VCPR and explain why it is necessary for an animal operation.-                      Compare and contrast the function and properties of antibiotics and vaccines.-                      Describe the most common methods by which an antibiotic destroys bacteria.-                      Describe the most common bacterial mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.-                      Summarize the difference between Inherent (natural) Bacterial Resistance and Acquired Resistance.

In this video from Nature, observe elephants trek across the desert to an isolated waterhole.

Although the rainforest is a demanding environment for a cameraman, photographer Martyn Colbeck manages to capture a glimpse of forest elephants in the Congo in this video segment from Nature.

This video segment from Nature features a greeting ceremony by grassland elephants in Kenya.

In this video segment from Nature, learn the history of the world's first domesticated animal, the dog.

In this video segment from WILD TV, learn about the field study of scientists observing raccoons and terrapins in Jamaica Bay.

This lesson is great to use in Intro to Ag or Animal Science.  It will have students work through basic information about livestock animals and the livestock production methods. 

In this video segment from Nature, learn about the role of dogs in the lives of humans.

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A family of elephants rescues a baby elephant kidnapped by a rival elephant family in this video segment from Nature.