M.Sc. Veterinary Toxicology

Master of Science in Veterinary Toxicology

M.Sc. Veterinary Toxicology

1. List of Academic Staff

Name	Status and Qualification	Research Interests
S. F. Ambali	Professor & Head of Department. DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Neuropharmacology, Environmental Toxicology, Ethnopharmacology
K. T. Biobaku	Professor, DVM (UDU, Sokoto); P.DE. (ABU, Zaria); M.Sc., Ph.D. (UDU, Sokoto); Cert.Mol.Biol. (FUNAAB, Abeokuta);	Ethnopharmacology, Phytotoxicology, Stress pharmacology
B. S. Okediran	Professor, B.Sc. (OAU, Ile-Ife); DVM (Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D. (UNAAB, Abeokuta)	Biochemical Toxicology, Veterinary Biochemistry
Oyebisi M. Azeez	Professor, DVM (Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Lagos); FCVSN (Abuja)	Cardiovascular, Renal, Environmental, Molecular and stress Physiology
Z. Jaji	Senior Lecturer, DVM, M.V.Sc. (Maiduguri); Ph.D. (UPM, Serdang)	Nanopharmacology, Nanotoxicology
A. Aremu	Lecturer I, DVM (UDU, Sokoto); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ibadan)	Ethnopharmacology,  Metabolic disease, Toxicology
*A. A. Njan	Professor, B.Sc. (Calabar); M.Sc. (NAU, Awka); Ph.D. (MUST, Mbarara); PGD (California)	Ethnopharmacology, Toxicology

* Lecturer from another Department

B. Introduction

The M.Sc. in Veterinary Toxicology programme is for the development of highly skilled specialisation in veterinary clinical toxicology and environmental safety management to interested graduates of veterinary medicine that are employed in academic, industry, public and private sector, and Research Institutes.

C. Philosophy

The philosophy of the programme is the provision of quality training for holders of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree employed in academics, industry, regulatory agencies, public service and research institutes.

D. Aim and Objectives

1. The programme is aimed at producing veterinary toxicologists that will combat environmental challenges that impair animal health and environmental safety. The objectives are to:

1. Provide advanced academic training in veterinary toxicology for graduate employees in academics, industry, the public service, regulatory agencies and research institutes; and
2. Provide rational and academic training to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine graduates in clinical and forensic veterinary toxicology, and environmental monitoring, management and safety.

E. Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission into the programme shall have the following requirements:

1. ‗O‘ level Credits passes or its equivalents in five subjects including Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English language.
2. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or its equivalent from any recognised institution.

F. Duration of the Programme

1. The Full-time programme shall run for a minimum of 18 calendar months and a maximum of 24 calendar months.
2. The part-time programme shall run for a minimum of 24 calendar months and a maximum of 36 calendar months.

G. Detailed Course Description

VTC 813 Biomedical Research Methodology and Communication 2 Credits

History and legal basis of research ethic. Ethical requirements. Ethical review procedure. Ethical issues and requirements: data protection, privacy, informed consent, research on animals and humans, dual use. Identifying research fields. Identifying funding resources. Developing a grant proposal: basic components of a grant proposal, budget and budgeting, research planning and design. Writing research protocol. Submitting a research proposal. Implementing the research project. Describing and analysing research results. Interpreting research results. Report writing. Management control in biomedical research. Challenges and opportunities in collaborative scientific research. Research communication: communicating to scientists, funding agencies, health professionals, policymakers, patients/clients, the community, and public media. Writing scientific papers. Publishing scientific papers. Making scientific presentations. 30h (T); C

VPH 815 Biostatistics 2 Credits

Statistics. Study designs. Scales of measurement. Quality of measurement, statistical variable/data. Qualitative and quantitative data sources. Sampling and sample size determination. Data organisation: Statistics Charts, Tables, Graphs Frequency Tables, Frequency distribution, Histogram, Stem and leaf plot, box plot. Summary indices: Mean, Median, Modes Variance, Standard Deviation. Probability distributions: Normal, Binomial, Poisson distribution, Descriptive statistics, frequency table, tables for qualitative and quantitative data, diagrams, types of diagrams. Data summarisation: summary indices, measures of central tendency and dispersion. Test of statistical hypothesis. Confidence intervals. Parametric and non-parametric tests. Z-test for proportions. Chi-square test. Fischer‘s exact test and T-test. Analysis of variance. Regression and correlation. Spearman rank and Kendal correlation. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VPH 817 Bioinformatics 2 Credits

manipulation. GenBank. Nucleic acid amplification and sequencing. Use of Gene Sequences Analysis software (BioEdit®, MEGA, CLC). Phylogenetic tree construction and analysis. Bioinformatics: Introduction, principles and application in Veterinary Medicine. Software and data. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VPC 806 Advanced Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology 3 Credits

Current trends and innovation in clinical pharmacology. Principles of pharmacy, compounding and prescription writing. Drug compliance, interactions and incompatibility. Therapeutic strategies and choice of drugs. Monitoring of therapeutic responses. Drug legislation in Nigeria. Drug development and clinical trials. introduction to veterinary pharmacovigilance. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VPC 806 Advanced Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology 3 Credits

Current trends and innovation in clinical pharmacology. Principles of pharmacy, compounding and prescription writing. Drug compliance, interactions and incompatibility. Therapeutic strategies and choice of drugs. Monitoring of therapeutic responses. Drug legislation in Nigeria. Drug development and clinical trials. Introduction to veterinary pharmacovigilance. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VTC 801 Toxicological Principles and Target Organ Toxicity 1 Credit

Toxicological concept. Toxic-o-kinetics. Toxic-o-dynamics. Mechanistic toxicology. Toxic-o-genetic principles. Dose-response relationships. Safety testing. Toxic response to foreign compound. Nature and outcome and target organ toxicity. 15h (T); C

VTC 802 Advanced Clinical Veterinary Toxicology 3 Credits

Diagnostic approach in clinical Veterinary toxicology: patient clerking, toxicological history, clinical signs, physical examination, sample collection, transportation and storage, sample preparation and analysis. Clinical management of toxicosis: an approach to clinical management of toxicosis, patient   stabilisation   and   evaluation, decontamination, antidotal therapy, toxin examination, specific management of some drug and chemical toxicity. Management of toxicological emergencies. Adverse drug reaction. Radiation toxicity and management. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VTC 803 Advanced Phytotoxicology 2 Credits

Factors involved in plant poisoning in animals. Plant metabolites-structures, properties and functions. Plant toxicities caused by cyanide, cardiac glycoside, alkaloids, toxalbumin, nitrate/nitrites, gossypol, phototoxin, miscellaneous toxic principles, mycotoxins, toxic algae, and lichen. Management of phytotoxicosis and mycotoxicosis. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VTC 804 Advanced Zoo toxicology 1 Credit

Evolutionary and genetic basis of animal toxins. Chemistry and biology of toxins of arthropod, bacterial, marine animals, reptilian, amphibian and mammalian origin: sources and variations. Usefulness, biology and medical significance of animal poisons. Biotechnology, pathophysiology and management of zootoxicosis. Guideline for working with toxins of animal and bacterial origin. 15h (T); C

VTC 805 Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology 2 Credits

Interaction between environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology: Chemistry and pathophysiology (factors and toxicity). Biological effects of environmental chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, gas, marine organic and terrestrial pollutants and radionuclides and persistent organic pollutant. Environmental management, Biomonitoring and remediation. occupational health and safety. Environmental residue management in mammals and aquatic animals.  Ecotoxicology. Ecotoxicogenomics. Measuring and predicting the response of ecological systems to toxicants. Effects of chemicals on aquatic population. Ecosystems ecotoxicology: sources and transport of chemicals in an aquatic system, test system and studies types for ecotoxicology. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VTC 806 Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology 2 Credits

Overview and applicability of molecular techniques in toxicology. Applicability of toxico-genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and cellular techniques. Structure, mechanisms and regulation of non-microsomal oxidation. Allosteric regulation. Cytochrome P450 metabolism of toxicant and metabolic interaction. Regulation of metabolizing enzymes and xenobiotic transporters. Conjugation of toxicants. Regulation and polymorphism in phase II genes. Cellular transport and elimination. Mitochondrial dysfunction in toxicology. The fundamental principle of toxicant-receptor interaction. Oxidative stress in toxicology. DNA damage and mutagenesis. DNA repair. Carcinogenesis and teratogenesis. Genetic toxicology. Molecular epidemiology and gene susceptibility. Biochemical mechanisms of renal, hepatic, pulmonary, and nervous system toxicity. Molecular and biochemical mechanisms of toxic neuropathies. Central nervous system excitotoxicity. Molecular pathways involved in cell death after chemically induced DNA damage. Cellular and molecular techniques in toxicology. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VTC 807 Dietary Toxicology 1 Credit

Natural toxins in terrestrial animal and marine foodstuff. Toxic phytochemicals from plants and fungi. Food contaminant from industrial waste. Pesticides/chemicals and drug residues in food. Antinutritive factors in food. Toxicology of food additives. Toxicants formed during food processing. Food factors and health. Management of food toxicity. 15h (T); C

VTC 808 Neurotoxicology 2 Credits

Basic neurotoxicology. Neurotoxicity assessment. Neuromorphological and neuropathological approaches in neurotoxicology: Histopathological, histochemical and ultrastructural assessment. Neuroanatomical technique for labelling neurons. Quantitative morphometry for neurotoxicity assessment. Electrophysiological methods of ion-channel function. Analysis of the effect of neurotoxicants on synaptic transmission. Hippocampal field potentials and neurotoxicity.Electrophysiological analysis of complex brain system. Neurobehavioral Toxicology: a neurobehavioral method for sensory and motor functions, methods in cognitive toxicology, extrapolating scientific data from animals to humans in behavioural toxicology. Biochemical  correlates  of  neurotoxicity.  Mechanisms-based  neurotoxicity  assessment. Neurochemical and bimolecular approaches in neurotoxicology. in-vitro neurotoxicology methods. Risk assessment in neurotoxicology; Clinical neurotoxicology. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VTC809 Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology 1 Credit

Review of the physiology of male and female reproductive systems. Hypothalamic-pituitary- testicular axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Mechanisms and targets of male and female reproductive toxicity. Endocrinology and endocrine disruption. Mechanisms and targets of developmental toxicity. Principle of teratology. Methods in reproductive and developmental toxicology. Interpretation of and implication of reproductive and developmental toxicology results. 15h (T); C

VTC 810 Techniques in Veterinary Toxicology 1 Credit

Animal welfare and handling, housing and management. Ethical approval. Good laboratory practices. The concept of three Rs in experimental toxicology. General objectives of the toxicological study. The basic principle of toxicological investigation. Protocol design and procedure. Circumstances in toxicity testing. Ethics of toxicological assessment. The effect sought in toxicity studies. The experimental necessity of toxicological assessment. Normality: establishing and maintaining normality in the experimental group. Methods in dermal, oral, ocular, alternative animal experimentation, in silico experimentation: regulation of study conduct. 15h (T); C

VTC 811 Seminar I 1 Credit

Oral presentation of proposal and literature survey to be assessed by a panel of examiners during an oral presentation. 45h (P); C

VTC 812 Seminar II 1 Credit

Oral presentation of research findings to be assessed by a panel of examiners during an oral presentation. 45h (P);C

VTC 899 Dissertation 6 Credits

Original investigation into an approved problem in veterinary toxicology under the supervision of an approved academic supervisor(s). 450h (P); C

• Graduation Requirements

A candidate must pass 35 Credits made up of the following to be awarded the Master of Science (Veterinary Toxicology) degree:

Core 35 Credits

Total 35 Credits

I. Summary

Core courses

VTC 813 (2), VPB 801 (2), VPH 815 (2), VPH 817 (2), VPC 806 (3), VTC 801 (1), VTC 802

(3), VTC 803 (2), VTC 804 (1), VTC 805 (2), VTC 806 (2), VTC 807 (1), VTC 808 (2), VTC 809 (1), VTC 810 (1), VTC 811 (1), VTC 812 (1), VTC 899 (6)