42828 - Mycology and Parasitology Techniques (BO)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will learn the laboratory techniques employed for the diagnosis of diseases caused by protozoans, helminths and fungi.

Course contents

This course is part of the Clinical Microbiology II integrated course and it will mainly follow the leads of the Mycology and Parasitology and the Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases in Veterinary Medicine courses, dealing specifically with laboratory techniques employed for the diagnosis of disease caused by protozoans, helminths and fungi.

 

Considering the diversity of the microrganisms and the different diagnostic techniques, the course will be divided in 4 sections:

1. In the section regarding hematic protozoans:

• Sampling methods;
  
  
• Microscopy techniques: preparation of microscopy slides, Giemsa staining;
  
  
• Immunocromatographic tests, antibodies and antigens immunoassays;
  
  
• Molecular biology techniques: nucleic acids extraction, Real Time PCR and LAMP.

 

2. In the section regarding enteric protozoans and protozoans from other districts:

• Sampling methods and macroscopic evaluation of stool samples;
  
  
• Microscopy techniques: preparation of microscopy slides, staining (Lugol, Giemsa, Wheatley, Ziehl-Neelsen) and concentration (sedimentation, flotation);
  
  
• Immunocromatographic tests and serology;
  
  
• Additional diagnostic tools for specific protozoans: Acanthamoeba colture, TORCH screening and antibody avidity.

 

3. In the section regarding helmints:

• Sampling methods and macroscopic evaluation of stool samples;
  
  
• Microscopy techniques for hematic and gastroenteric helmints;
  
  
• Additional diagnostic techniques: antibodies and antigens immunoassays, Strongyloides colture;

4. In the section regarding fungi:

• Sampling methods;
  
  
• Colture and isolation techniques;
  
  
• Species identification techniques: in vitro morphology evaluation, biochemical tests and mass spectrometry;
  
  
• Antimycotic susceptibility tests;
  
  
• Sampling, colture and identification techniques for dermatophytes.

Readings/Bibliography

The study of the materials provided by the professor, availabie via the Virtuale platform, is the only requirement for the final exam.

For a detailed insight about the diagnostic techniques employed in Parasitology:

• Bench aids for the diagnosis of malaria infections (second edition) - World Health Organization (WHO)
  ISBN 92-4-154524-0

• Bench aids for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites (second edition) - World Health Organization (WHO)
  ISBN 978-92-4-151534-4

• Bench aids for the diagnosis of filarial infections - World Health Organization (WHO)
  ISBN 92-4-154489-9

Teaching methods

Frontal and interactive in-person lectures.

For each lesson one or more slide presentations will be shown, along with explanatory videos and meaningful clinical case studies. At the end of each lesson there will be an anonymous and optional test via Microsoft Forms with the aim of focusing on the covered topics.

Assessment methods

Lecture attendance is mandatory (students should attend 75% of the scheduled hours) and allows to understand which topics will definetely be featured in the final exam.

A final written exam is used for the learning verification and evaluation, with the following characteristics:

• 1 hour and 30 minutes of duration;
• Mainly comprised of close-ended questions with multiple answers;
• No penalties for unanswered questions and wrong answers;
• Use of textbook, notes and tech supports is not allowed;
• The exam is deemed to be passed with a minimum grade of 18/30;
• The best possible grade is 30/30 cum laude.
  

Students that reject the given grade, withdraw during the test or fail to enroll for the first date of the written exam will be evaluated with a final oral exam instead. The oral examination will be the default assessment method for the subsequent sessions, with the following characteristics:

• Knowledge of the covered topics, scientific fluency, autonomous analysis and contents comparison skills are the considered criteria for gradation;
• 3 main questions will be posed and for each question a grade from 1 to 11 will be assigned (for a total score of 33);
• The exam is deemed to be passed with a minimum grade of 18/30;
• The best possible grade is 30/30 cum laude.

The final grade of the Clinical Microbiology II integrated course is the weighted average of the grades obtained in each single courses that compose it. The grades of each single courses have no due date.

Teaching tools

The classrooms will be equipped with a computer with speaker, videoprojector and internet connection, for lecturer use only.

Slides will be available via Virtuale and downloadable in the Portable Document File format (.pdf) before each lesson.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro De Filippo