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.

Upon completion 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.

 

SPECIFIC CONTENT OF  THE COURSE

Specifically, in the course of PARASITIC DISEASES the lectures will start on an introductory part in which the basic concepts relating to the epidemiology and socio-economic aspects of parasitic diseases will be illustrated (3 hours).

Subsequently, the main parasitic zoonoses will be investigated, in particular Leishmaniasis, Toxoplasmosis, Cystic Echinococcosis, Cysticercosis, Trichinellosis (9 hours).

Afterwards, the main parasites involving the gastrointestinal, respiratory, circulatory, integumentary and reproductive systems of livestock and companion animals will be considered. In particular:

ruminants (coccidiosis, cryptosporidiosis, liver flukes, strongilosi gastrointestinal an bronchopulmonary strongylosis, oestriasis, babesiosis, neosporosis, trichomoniasis, mange, specific and nonspecific skin myiasis, dermatophytosis) (9 hours);

swine (coccidiosis, ascaridosis, metastrongylosis, sarcopic mange) (4 hours);

equines (cryptosporidiosis, ascaridiosis, gastrointestinal strongylosis, gasterophilosis, Durine, piroplasmosis, Sweet itch) (5 hours);

dog and cat (Coccidiosis, giardiosis, tricomoniasis, cestodosis, ancylostomosis, ascaridosis, trichurosis, respiratory helminthiasis, babesiosis, dirofilariosis, mange, pulicosis, dermatophyitosis) (8 hours);

rabbit (coccidiosis, mange, dermatophytosis)(2 hours).

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 possible 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.

  

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 supplementary reading

- 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.

Given the nature of the teaching activities and instructional methods adopted, attendance requires successful completion of Modules 1, 2, and 3 of the University's e-learning health and safety training programme for study environments.

Participation in practical classes and laboratory activities requires students to wear a laboratory coat and appropriate footwear. Personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the specific laboratory activities, such as disposable latex gloves, will be provided.

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

ching “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.

 

In evaluating the oral exam, the instructor will use the following grading scale:

- Basic understanding of only a few course topics; analysis skills emerge only with the instructor’s help; generally correct language → 18–22

- Limited knowledge of several topics; independent analysis only on procedural issues; correct language use → 23–26

- Broad knowledge of course topics; ability to make autonomous critical judgments; mastery of discipline-specific terminology → 27–29

- Comprehensive understanding of course content; fully independent critical analysis and connections; excellent command of terminology and argumentation skills → 30–30 with honors

The result of the oral exam will be communicated at the end of the session. The minimum passing grade is 18/30.

Negative results are not graded numerically but recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic transcript on AlmaEsami, and do not affect the student’s academic record.

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.

Grades for individual parts and the final grade will be published on the AlmaEsami platform (https://almaesami.unibo.it/?lang=en ) within 5 working days of the date of the exam.

Students may reject the final grade by informing the course examiner via email within 5 working days.

Students can register for exams through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Exams are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available for students beyond the standard program duration.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

With regard to the learning assessment, the use of AI is prohibited. Any use of AI constitutes a breach of academic integrity.

 

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 farms, 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.

In case of difficulty understanding the course content, the instructor is available for clarification meetings, which must be scheduled via email.

office hours: see the website of Roberta Galuppi

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Galuppi