VMC 991 – Diseases of Marine Organisms (offered annually)
This is a week-long intensive course focusing on diseases affecting marine organisms, with emphasis placed on familiarizing clinicians and veterinary scientists with approaches for observing signs of infection and disease. The coursework includes lectures providing a broad background in pathogens and diseases affecting marine fish and shellfish and labs giving hands-on experience with classic (cytology and histopathology) and modern diagnostic (PCR and next-generation sequencing) tools. Exercises and in-class discussions apply diagnostic tools to interpret signs of infection and disease in coastal North Carolina marine organisms, draw inferences about disease processes in marine ecosystems, and identify key questions for future research. This course divides time between field trips to nearby coastal environments, the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology.
VMC 921 – Viruses in the Ocean (Special Topics in Zoological Medicine)
Over the previous decade aquaculture industries replaced wild capture fisheries as the dominant source of global seafood production. This trend will only continue further. For aquaculture to sustainably increase capacity, we need to acknowledge and mitigate its impacts on environmental integrity, the health and welfare of farmed animals, and human health. Our collective experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has made this clear – the emergence and spread of viral pathogens is at the forefront of these impacts from human development. This elective course provides applied experience exploring how virus ecology and evolution respond to human activities in our oceans.