B6253 - Cambiamento climatico e infezioni

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge regarding the influence of climate change on the emergence of infections transmissible to humans, with a particular focus on infections transmitted by vectors and environmental matrices.

Course contents

Lecture 1. Infections Transmitted by Arthropod Vectors
Arthropod vectors (such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies) are ectothermic organisms whose survival, geographic distribution, and ability to transmit pathogens are strongly influenced by climatic conditions. Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and milder winters favor the expansion of vectors into new geographic areas and the lengthening of the transmission season.
In Europe and Italy, there has been an increase in vector-borne infections, including those caused by the West Nile virus, the Toscana virus, and Leishmania—transmitted primarily by mosquitoes of the genus Culex and sand flies. Furthermore, in recent years, there have been autochthonous outbreaks of Chikungunya and Dengue, made possible by the spread of the Aedes albopictus mosquito and, in some areas, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. We will discuss the main mechanisms by which climate change influences the epidemiology of arboviral diseases, as well as surveillance and prevention strategies.
Lecture 2: Rodent-Borne Infections
Climate variations influence the distribution and population density of rodents, favoring their expansion in certain temperate and urban areas and increasing opportunities for contact with humans. Extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and flooding, can facilitate the spread of pathogens excreted in rodent urine, such as Leptospira Furthermore, hantaviruses are a prime example of zoonotic viruses transmitted through the inhalation of aerosols contaminated with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents. The role of climate change in the ecology of animal reservoirs and in the emergence of new infections will be explored in depth.

Lecture 3 Waterborne Infections and Extreme Weather Events
Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as floods, heavy rainfall, droughts, and heat waves, with significant repercussions on the availability, quality, and safety of water resources. The effects of floods on water contamination and the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks will also be addressed by analyzing events related to the floods of 2023–2024.
Practical Activity
Group work on case studies concerning the effects of climate change on emerging infectious diseases. Students will analyze realistic scenarios (arbovirus outbreaks, post-flood epidemics, water contamination events, emerging zoonotic infections), identify the climate factors involved, and propose prevention, surveillance, and response strategies in accordance with the One Health approach.

Readings/Bibliography

The bibliography and multimedia resources provided by the instructor will be made available on VIRTUALE

Teaching methods

lecturesn  case discussion group activity

Assessment methods

Students are required to attend at least 60% of the classes. Participation in class discussions and activities will be taken into account in the final assessment of course completion.

Teaching tools

power point presentations, videos, discussion 

Office hours

See the website of Alessandra Scagliarini