Veterinary Surveillance

The Murdoch University Masters in Veterinary Studies (Veterinary Surveillance) allows graduate veterinarians to acquire knowledge and expertise in the field of veterinary surveillance, risk analysis and epidemiology. This degree is ideal for graduate veterinarians working in Government organisations/facilities, international organisations and consultants and private practitioners working with production animals.

Disease is a significant factor limiting the productivity of livestock in both developed and developing nations. New, emerging and re-emerging diseases of livestock can have a considerable effect on a country’s economy, as well as impacting directly on the lives of farmers and their families. Graduates in this degree course will obtain the skills essential to minimise disease incursions, monitor the presence of diseases and design and evaluate control measures to minimise loss of production if diseases do occur.

Graduates from all over the world have enrolled in the Masters of Veterinary Studies (Veterinary Surveillance). Enrollment in this Masters gives you the opportunity to network with graduates from many different regions and from very different backgrounds.

The course

The course is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. It can be undertaken either on-campus or off-campus and on a full-time or part-time basis. Students enrolling full-time would complete the degree within a one year (two semesters) period
To graduate students must complete three course units (VET640 Infectious and Emerging Diseases, VET641 Principles of Epidemiology, VET642 Practical Applications of Epidemiology) and a one semester full-time equivalent project/small research unit (VET649 Surveillance Research Project). All units can be enrolled either internally or externally.

Dissertation

• In their research projects in VET649 students have researched and produced dissertations on a wide range of topics including:
• Descriptive epidemiology of FMD outbreaks in Thailand
• Surveillance for animal diseases in Vietnam with specific reference to Avian Influenza
• Review of the FMD surveillance program in Kruger National Park, South Africa
• A cross-sectional study of Newcastle disease in Timor-Leste
• Serological Survey of some selected horse diseases in Oman
• Comparison of the efficacy of four vaccines against swine fever
• A review of bovine tuberculosis in Kruger National Park
• Common diseases in rural backyard poultry in China
• Epidemiological review of type 1 diabetes mellitus in the Australian Human Population
• Epidemiology, control and surveillance of Cathay strain FMD serotype O in Asia
• Kangaroo mince as a potential source of bacterial zoonoses
• A study of internal parasites in African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) from the KwaZulu-Natal region, South Africa
• A retrospective study on diseases affecting poultry in Brunei Darussalam
• Camel Diseases in Dubai
• An epidemiological investigation of oesophago-gastric ulcers in Western Australian pigs at slaughter
• Identifying the risk factors for enzootic pneumonia in pigs from Western Australia
• Investigating neonatal mortalities in Mekong Delta dolphins
• Veterinary disease risks from natural disasters
• Surveillance of pig diseases in Bali