Basic Veterinary Immunology and Principles of Vaccination

Course Content

This course provides an overview of veterinary immunology with an emphasis on infectious disease.

The lectures are divided into four major sections:
  • Basic overview and innate immunity and inflammation;
  • Adaptive immunity and stimulation of B cell and T cell responses to pathogens;
  • Effector functions of the immune system, how it eliminates pathogens, challenges associated with protection of mucosal surfaces, and complex issues associated with protection of the neonate. In addition, an overview of methods used to evaluate cell mediated immunity and comparative immunology, i.e. how avian and aquatic species immune systems compare to mammalian, are discussed.
  • Vaccine safety and efficacy and application of basic immunology to the science of vaccine use and production.

A detailed list of all lectures is available.

Target Audience

This course is intended for individuals who are interested in mechanisms of resistance to infectious diseases and vaccination, including veterinarians and professionals with biology backgrounds. Because immunology is a rapidly changing field, this course is designed for individuals who have not recently studied immunology or for those who have never studied immunology. The course provides a good basic foundation of immunology and vaccinology and the information necessary for a more in-depth study of immunology, if that is desired.

Course Delivery and Continuing Education Credit

The course is delivered in 34 video lectures. The lectures are accessed online according to your schedule and at your own pace. In addition to the video lectures, printed copies of the slides and detailed outlines for each lecture are provided and can be used for note taking and review.

The course is RACE approved for up to 17 Veterinary Continuing Education Units. The 17 CEUs are earned after the exam for each section is successfully completed:

  • Overview / Innate Immunity = 3 CEUs
  • Adaptive Immunity = 5 CEUs
  • Effector Functions / Analyzing the CMI Response = 5 CEUs
  • Vaccines = 4 CEUs

The Instructor

Dr. Jim Roth, an award winning instructor, is the course creator and instructor. This course covers the same content as Block I of the Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics' Veterinary Biologics Training Program hosted in Ames, IA each year in May. Since Dr. Roth's lectures receive outstanding reviews and he received so many requests to give these lectures, the lectures have been made available as an online course. The on line format allows for self-paced learning and eliminates travel time and expense for students.

Example Lecture and Handout PDF

Lesson Title Outline PDF
1. Overview: Principles of Immunology and Vaccination (25 min) Course Outline Sample PDF

Information on Costs, CE credit, and How to Enroll (select the best link for your situation)

Employees of companies, government agencies, associations including veterinarians that are not currently practicing veterinary medicine.
more info »

Practicing veterinarians, technicians, current veterinary students, graduate students, interns and residents.
more info »