PARASITOLOGY

General Module

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020/2021

Type of Course:

Characterising

Optional/Mandatory:

Compulsory

Degree:

5-year Single Cycle Master's Degree Programme in VETERINARY MEDICINE

Disciplinary Sector:

Parasitology and Parasitic Animal Diseases

Is part of:

PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

SCALA Antonio

Obligatory attendance:

Yes

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

Students must have knowledge of basic subjects (Zoology and Biology), as well as a basis in Anatomy and Physiology of animals. In particular, a circular path is planned where zoology and Parasitic Disease modules are integrated. The course will therefore provide students with skills to facilitate the understanding of other disciplines, mainly Parasitic Diseases, but also Pathology, including Inspection and Quality of Food of Animal Origin and Clinics.

AF code:

40000204

Teaching period

Single Annual Cycle

Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge of morphobiology, lifecycles and epidemiology of the most common parasites in Veterinary Medicine and of zoonotic interest from a One Health perspective. Students will also be able to recognize the main parasitic agents causing infections/infestations in animals (including zoonotic agents) macro- and microscopically.
DOC 1.3, 1.6, 1.8,1.10, 1,15, 1.17, 1.21, 1.24, 1.33, 1.36, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10.

Contents

The teaching activity will be carried out during the hours set by the course calendar and will include:

FONTAL LESSONS (38 hours)
GENERAL PART
Definition of biological associations (symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism and parasitism); definitive host, intermediate host and vector definition; contact with the host; transmission and adhesion to the host; overcoming of defense systems; parasite’s migrations; reproduction; contamination by the host; parasitic specificity; concept of zoonoses and implications on “One health”; concepts of immunoparasitology; systematic of animal parasites. Parasitology as a branch of ecology. Notes on the applications of biotechnology in parasitology. Classification and morphobiological characteristics of the main forms of parasite propagation (eggs, larvae and oocysts).
SPECIAL PART
Morphobiology of Protozoa belonging to the genera: Leishmania, Giardia, Eimeria, Isospora, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Babesia, Theileria.
Morphobiology of Nematodes belonging to the superfamilies: Trichostrongyloidea, Strongyloidea, Metastrongyloidea, Rhabditoidea, Oxyuridea, Ascaridoidea, Spiruroidea, Filarioidea and Trichuroidea. Fluke morphobiology of the genera: Fasciola, Dicrocoelium, Paraphistomum and Calicophoron.
Morphobiology of Cestodes and relative larval forms of the genera: Taenia, Echinococcus, Multiceps, Anoplocephala, Moniezia, Dipylidium and Mesocestoides.
Morphobiology Arthropods of the genera: Culex, Phlebotomus, Anopheles, Aedes, Hypoderma, Oestrus, Gasterophilus, Hippobosca, Ctenocephalides, Pulex, Ixodes, Dermacentor, Boophilus, Rhipicephalus, Argas, Sarcoptes, Nitrophilus, Dermacentor, Othus, Demodex, Psoroptes, Chorioptes and Otodectes.

PRATICAL LESSONS (17 hours)
Knowledge of the Parasitology laboratory and notions of biosecurity to be applied to safeguard the health of the operator in the prevention of the main parasitic and / or transmissible zoonoses through biological matrices (faeces, hair, blood, etc.); techniques of isolation of parasitic elements; macro and microscopic recognition of the main parasitic agents; microscopic recognition of the propagation forms of parasites will be taught.

Should the COVID 19 emergency persist or reappear, FRONTAL LESSONS will be:
- online in synchronous mode using the Microsoft Teams platform. Face-to-face teaching can be implemented if the ministerial and / or university regulations will allow it.
The PRATICAL LESSONS will take place:
- online in synchronous / asynchronous mode using the Microsoft Teams platform.
- in the laboratory, in person, in accordance with COVID-19 protocols if the epidemiological trend of the pandemic will allow it.

Recommended Bibliography

Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie in Medicina Veterinaria. Edited by Daniela Piergili Fioretti and Annabella Moretti. BUP Bononia University Press 2020.
• Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie degli animali. Taylor MA, Coop RL, Wall RL. Fourth Italian edition edited by Domenico Otranto. EDRA 2020.
- Parassiti in Medicina Veterinaria – metodi di identificazione ed indagine microscopica. Sloss M.W., Kemp R.I., Edi-ermes, Milano 1976.

Other information:
Lecture slides and teaching material relating to practical activities are available on the eUniss-eLearning multimedia platform, https://evet.uniss.it and on the Microsoft Teams platform (Unique code: qimsm4i).
Further material useful for exam preparation is also available on the Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/Parassitologia

Office hours.
Students can contact the lecturer from Monday to Friday via the Teams platform (Unique code: qimsm4i), subject to shared appointment by telephone or email (scala@uniss.it).

PARASITOLOGY

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Course year: 2

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