The udder and its response to infection

This course is designed primarily for graduate students conducting a master or doctoral project on udder health. The objective is to equip them with the knowledge they will need to conduct their research.

This course could also be useful for veterinarians, as they provide an opportunity to deepen the basics and access to cutting-edge knowledge for continuing education. The same applies to teachers in agriculture and animal health. Similarly, anyone with a scientific background and an interest in udder health will find high-level notions within the course.

Module 1 : Udder anatomy and physiology

• The general anatomy and structure of the mammary gland including teat anatomy;
• The physiology of the mammary gland including:
• Development of the mammary gland prior to first lactation and prior to subsequent calvings;
• Secretory activities during the milking phase;
• Involution of the mammary gland at drying off.

Module 2 : Udder immunology

• Bovine humoral and innate immunity;
• Mammary gland local immunity.

Module 3 : Host genetics

• Quantitative genetics;
• Genomics.

Module 4 : Pathophysiology

• Mammary tissues response following intra-mammary infection;
• Involvement of neutrophils, plasma protein, cytokines, and bacteria in tissue damage.

Main Designer
Simon Dufour, DMV, Ph.D
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Canada
Scientific Director, Canadian Bovine Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Network
simon.dufour@umontreal.ca

Simon Dufour is the scientific director of the Canadian Bovine Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Network and epidemiology professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Université de Montréal, Canada. Simon holds a DVM and a Ph.D. from University of Montreal. Before engaging in research he has worked with Canadian dairy producers for 10 years as veterinary practitioner, an experience that helped him developed an excellent understanding of the dairy industry. His consuming interests are the epidemiology of mastitis pathogens, the development of tools for monitoring mastitis, and the development of novel practices for controlling mastitis.