Teaching

NVH is responsible for the education of students of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing, master students and doctoral students.  In addition, certain members of staff are involved in the further and continuing education of veterinary surgeons and other professions working with animal health and/or food safety.

 

Students of veterinary medicine are taught the following subjects: virology, bacteriology, immunology, parasites, food safety, arctic veterinary medicine, pharmacology and toxicology.  Master students follow teaching in the field of food safety and related subjects.  Students of veterinary nursing receive tuition in bacteriology/mycology, virology and hygiene, infection biology and pharmaceuticals.

Research

Extensive research is carried out by the School’s own research groups both independently and in cooperation with other institutions in Norway and abroad.  Research within the fields of food safety and the environment spans a wide spectre from environmental pollution in artic regions, to medical residue in food, from food safety in ecological food production to waterborne parasites. 

Food Safety
Food safety and food quality make up one of NVH’s main areas of priority. Understanding the relationship between animal health, and quality and safety of animal produce, in order to avoid transference of disease to the consumer, is the particular responsibility of the field of veterinary medicine.

Parasites, bacteria, and viruses that are transferred via food, animal feed and water are among the most important causes of illness in humans and animals, both globally and nationally.  Fundamental knowledge about the way these organisms occur, survive, spread and carry out their effect is vital in the work to prevent disease being passed on to the consumer.  

The Environment
NVH has developed considerable competence in environmental toxicology over many years and is an important source of knowledge for official bodies and authorities.  Increasingly strong cooperation with other national and international resource groups ensures the further development of this competence.  Research is mainly concentrated on the occurrence, dissemination and effects of organic toxins in relation to aquatic and terrestrial animals, and on the effects and dissemination of alga toxins. 

There is a growing awareness of the serious consequences that environmental pollution can have on the health of fauna, domestic animals and humans.  This field is regarded, therefore, as extremely important for the protection and improvement of the environment for animals and people.

Services

Considerable work is carried out at the Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology in connection with the various service and advisory functions the department has for public and private organisations. The department functions as adviser in the analysis of medicine residue in food, alga toxins in shellfish and bacteria and parasites in food.

Hygiene Laboratory - carries out most of all microbiological analyses of foodstuffs and water.

Alga Toxin Laboratory - on behalf of the fishery authorities, the lab carries out quality control of shellfish from the fish farming industry before produce is made available for sale.

Parasite Laboratory - the only specialist laboratory in the country that carries out inspections for parasites in domestic mammals, poultry and bees, and in water and slurry.