27970 - Wildlife Parasitic Diseases

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires basic knowledge of eco-pathology and parasitic diseases of wildlife with particular reference to wildlife parasites relevant for public health, livestock and wild populations;  to the risk factors related to  human-animal-environment interactions, monitoring and control. In particular, the student will be able to recognize and identify the main agents of parasitic diseases of wild animals; to understand the ecology of host-parasite relationship; to collaborate with veterinarians, wildlife technicians and public administrators; to care wildlife health and welfare.

Course contents

Ecology of host-parasite relationship in free-living populations.

Definition of macro- and micro-parasite; populations and communities; Basics of population dynamics, niche concept, regulation and stability. Eco-epidemiological indexes applied to the study of parasite infections: prevalence, mean intensity, abundance; Frequency distribution, R0, force of infection,  threshold density; Importance, diversity, richness. Intra-and interspecific competition; Competition mediated by parasites. Dynamics of host-parasite relationship in free-living populations.

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of parasitic infections. Health surveillance: meaning, purpose, methods. Principles of sampling, with particular reference to parasite infections. Wildlife and public health.

Major parasitic diseases of wildlife, with particular reference to zoonotic infections, infections shared with livestock and infections potentially impacting wild populations dynamics.

Readings/Bibliography

No specific text regarding wildlife parasitic diseases is available for the study of this course.

However, any book on veterinary parasitology and ecology will be usefull, in the parts regarding trasmissible diseases in free-living populations.

The following book are specifically recommended 

PARASSITOLOGIA - a cura di Frank E. G. Cox. Zanichelli

The ecology of wildlife disease - a cura di Hudson P.J., Rizzoli A., Grenfell B.T, Heesterbeek H. Dobson A.P. Oxford University Press

Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems. M. Begon et al. John Wiley & Sons.

Teaching methods

Class lessons and seminars

Assessment methods

oral interview aimed to evaluate the knowledge of the notion covered during the course, the understanding of concepts and specific arguments; the capacity of synthesis and the communication skills of the student.

Teaching tools

pc, projector

Office hours

See the website of Laura Stancampiano