07870 - Parasitic Diseases

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows the epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and prophylaxis of the main parasitic diseases of domestic animals. He/she is able to approach correctly the management of a parasitosis, both by applying basic diagnostic tools and by correctly evaluating the consequences of the host / parasite / environment relationship, in order to control and prevent the pathological phenomenon and its socio-economic consequences.

Course contents

This is part of the integrated course (I.C.) "TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES AND EPIDEMIOLOGY".

The educational objective of the I.C. is: a) to provide basic knowledge relating to veterinary epidemiology and illustrate the relationships existing between this and other veterinary disciplines; b) to provide knowledge relating to the etiology, epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis and prophylaxis of the main transmissible pathologies of livestock and companion animals; c) to acquire the ability to apply these knowledges in the interpretation of health data and in the management of direct and indirect prophylaxis. At the end of the I.C., the student: a) will be able to express opinion and health assessments even with incomplete data; b) will be able to manage and communicate information about the subject to both specialists and non-specialists; c) will achieve a high operational capacity in the control of diffusion pathologies that will allow him to work independently.

The recorder of the I.C. is prof. Fabio Ostanello.

Specifically, in this course the lectures will focused on an introductory part in which the basic concepts relating to the epidemiology and socio-economic aspects of parasitic diseases will be illustrated. The main parasitic zoonoses will be investigated, in particular Leishmaniasis, Toxoplasmosis, Cystic Echinococcosis, Cysticercosis, Trichinellosis. Subsequently, the main parasites involving the gastrointestinal, respiratory, circulatory, integumentary and reproductive systems of livestock and companion animals (ruminants, pigs, horses, dogs, cats and rabbits) will be considered. For each parasitic disease, aspects relating to etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs and diagnostic methods will be considered, paying particular attention to control methods and any national and European legislation.

The practical activities will include:

- Educational visits to farms (one for cattle and one for pigs, in association with the course of Infectious Diseases of livestock held by Prof. Ostanello)

- Laboratory activities: post-mortem parasitological analysis. Starting from organs collected in public slaughterhouses, students will have the opportunity to independently isolate, observe and identify the parasites present; application of parasitological diagnostic techniques on fecal samples

- Classroom activities: interactive activities using the kahoot system and working groups on topics related to parasitic diseases

Each laboratory and classroom activity will be repeated for each of the 4 student groups.

During the laboratory activities, it is mandatory to wear a coat and closed footwear. When necessary, PPE suitable for carrying out specific activities, such as overalls and disposable gloves, will be provided.

The organization of the practical avtivities may undergo changes according to the epidemiological situation (SARS-COV-2).

The Syllabus of the course unit and the list of EAEVE Day One Competences that the course unit contributes to achieving can be viewed on the dedicated page

Readings/Bibliography

- basic teaching material for exam preparation: slides and lecture notes provided by the teacher and deposited on the "VIRTUALE" platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/ )

Recommended texts for further information

- Piergili-Fioretti,D & Moretti, A – Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie in Medicina Veterinaria. Bononia University Press, Bologna 2020.

- Deplazes P., Eckert J., Mathis A., von Samson-Himmelstjerna G., Zahner H., Parasitology in Veterinary Medicine, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, 2016.

- Taylor, Coop e Wall (eds): Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie degli Animali” (IV edizione). edizione italiana a cura di Otranto et al., 2022, Edra Milano, ISBN: 978-88-214-5404-2

- “Parassitologia Zootecnica”, Marcello Ambrosi – Edagricole (in biblioteca)

- ESCCAP guidelines for companion animals available on: https://www.esccap.org/

Teaching methods

The course includes both lectures and practical activities in the laboratory and / or in the classroom, as described in the "course contents" section. Each practical activity in the laboratory or in the classroom is carried out by the student individually or in small groups and subjected to verification and discussion with the teacher and her collaborators.

All students who attend laboratories and farms for study and research purposes are equalized, with regard to their safety, to workers and as such must be trained on the correct procedures to be followed in activities and to specific risks. The attendance of these training activities requires all the students to attend at e-learning modules 1 and 2 and to participate at module 3 of specific training on safety and health in the study places. Information on dates and methods of attendance of module 3 can be consulted in the specific section of the degree program website.

Students with any DISABILITIES or SLDs can contact the teacher by e-mail, to have adaptations to teaching during the lesson phase. The students have to put in cc the staff of the specific University DISABILITY or SLD service and the Department contact person, who is currently Dr. Fabiana Trombetti.

It is underlined the importance of attending lectures and practical activities, for a better interaction with the teacher, also in terms of critical discussion of the issues, useful for the learning process.

Assessment methods

Students can book for the exam using the methods provided by the AlmaEsami online system.

The final assessment of the teaching “Parasitic Diseases” will consist of an oral examination which aims to verify the acquisition of knowledge achieved in accordance with the objectives of the course following the correct answer to two main questions relating to the topics covered. The assessment of the candidate's preparation may make use of further questions aimed at specifying aspects relating to the two main questions. In evaluating the candidate's answers, the commission will pay particular attention to consider the acquisition of a logical-deductive method in the presentation of the contents. Particular attention will be paid to the student's ability to think in a transversal way and to connect the concepts of the various parts of the teaching (including practical activities) each other and with the information deriving from previous courses, with particular regard to Parasitology and General Pathology.

The evaluation is expressed in a 30-point scale. The test is passed with a score of at least 18/30. In the event of maximum score (30/30), laudem can be attributed.

A very thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course, together with high skills of critical analysis, connection and a sure command of specific terminology will be evaluated with the maximum score (30-30L).

A thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with good analytical and critical skills and the possession of a sure command of specific terminology will be evaluated with good score (27-29).

A technically adequate preparation and a sufficient analytical capacity, even if not particularly articulated, expressed in a correct language, will produce fair evaluations (23-26).

Sufficient preparation and capacity for analysis, expressed in a language which is barely formally correct, will determine the sufficiency (18-22).

Students with any DISABILITY or SLD, can contact the teacher by e-mail, to have adaptations during the final assessment phase, taking care to put in cc the reference staff of the specific University DISABILITY or SLD service, and the contact person of the Department, which is currently Dr. Fabiana Trombetti.

The teaching is part of the integrated course TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES AND EPIDEMIOLOGY, which also includes the teachings of Infectious diseases of farm animals, Infectious diseases of companion animals, Epidemiology. The teacher responsible for verbalizing the integrated course is Fabio Ostanello. The final score of the integrated course "Communicable diseases and epidemiology" is calculated on the basis of the weighted average of the final scores of the four different courses that comprise it.

Teaching tools

Theoretical lessons are conducted in a classroom equipped with multimedia equipment (PC and video projector for PC), mainly using PowerPoint slides; practical lessons are carried out in DIMEVET laboratories equipped for diagnostic activities and in a classroom equipped with multimedia instruments (PC and video projector for PC), also using apps such as Ka-hoot.

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Galuppi