Learning objectives
Learning objectives
To teach students of veterinary medicine the basic principles (classification, epidemiology, life cycles, immunology) of parasitology and the clinical/diagnostic/therapeutic features of the most common parasitic diseases of domestic animals.
Learning results
At the end of the course, the student must be able to use acquired knowledge and show clear understanding of the basic principles (classification, epidemiology, life cycles, immunology) of parasitology and the clinical/diagnostic/therapeutic features of the most common parasitic diseases of domestic animals.
Course unit content
The content of the course includes the classification, epidemiology, life cycles and immunology of the following parasite groups: 1)Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea, Strongyloidea, Metastrongyloidea, Ascaridioidea, Filarioidea, Trichuroidea, Oxiurioidea; 2)Trematoda: Fasciola heaptica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum; Paraphistomum spp; 3)Cestoda: Taenidae, Anoplocephala spp, Moniezia spp, Diphylidium caninum. 4) Protozoa: Sarcomastigofora, Apicomplexa, Piroplasmidae; 5) Arthropoda: Insecta (biological vectors, fleas and agents of myasis), Acarina (mites and ticks). The most common parasitic diseases in domestic animals that are taught within the course include: 1) bovine/ovine: parasitic gastro-enteritis; parasitic pneumonia; liver fluke infection; cysticercosis; hydatidosis; tritrichomoniosis; toxoplasmosis; neosporosis; cryptosporidiosis; babesiosis; mange; warble fly infection/nasal bot. 2) equine: intestinal strongylosis/larval strongylosis; round worm infection; pin worm infection; trichinellosis; tape worm infection; genital trypanosomiasis (T. equiperdum); babesiosis; sweet itch (Culicoides spp); bot fly infection. 3) swine: gastrointestinal strongylosis; round worm infection; trichinellosis; whip worm infection; cysticercosis; neonatal coccidiosis; toxoplasmosis; sarcoptic mange. 4) canine: hook worm, round worm and whipworm infections; heartworm disease; tape worm infection; hydatidosis (E. multilocularis); leishmaniosis; coccidiosis; neosporosis; babesiosi; flea allergic dermatitis; tick infestation; sarcoptic, demodectic and otodectic mange. 5) feline: hook worm and round worm infections; lung worm (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus); heartworm disease; tape worm infection; hydatidosis (E. multilocularis); coccidiosis; toxoplasmosis; flea allergic dermatitis (FAD); otodectic mange. Wet labs are intended to teach the student routine laboratory techniques in parasitology (copromicroscopy and egg identification; blood smears and microfilariae identification; skin scrapings and identification of common ectoparasites).
Bibliography
Parassitologia Veterinaria, Urquart et al, (ed. Genchi C.), UTET, 2001
Assessment methods and criteria
oral and written examination
