35532 - Parasitology and Mycology

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Moduli: Marialetizia Fioravanti (Modulo 1) Roberta Galuppi (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Veterinary Medicine (cod. 8617)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student acquires knowledge of basic principles, correct terminology, taxonomy, morphology, epidemiology, life cycle of the parasites and mycetes which are more common and important in Veterinary Medicine, with regard also to Public Health. The student is able to recognize parasites and mycetes through macroscopic and microscopic observations of slides and preparations.

Course contents

The teaching course of Parasitology and Mycology is part of the integrated course of Microbiology and Parasitology, which also includes the teaching courses of Bacteriology and Immunology, and Virology. At the end of the Integrated Course of Microbiology and Parasitology, the student knows the principles of taxonomy, structure and morphology, biology and interactions with the host of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites of major importance in Veterinary Medicine and Public Health. He also knows the basic principles of immunology and the main methods of immunization, as well as the laboratory methods used for diagnostic purposes in virology, bacteriology, mycology and parasitology.

The course of Parasitology and Mycology is organized in two modules: Module 1 Parasitology (42 hours) held by Marialetizia Fioravanti and Module 2 Micology (6 hours) held by Roberta Galuppi.

Contents of Module 1 Parasitology:

General part – General concepts on parasitism. Definition of parasite and host. Terminology in parasitology. Notes of taxonomy and biology of parasites of interest in veterinary medicine. Relationships host-parasite and effects of parasites on the host. Special part - classification, morphology and life cycle of parasitic protozoans (amoebae, flagellates, ciliates, apicomplexans), helminths (cestodes, digeneans, monogeneans, nematodes) and arthropods (acari and insects) of main importance in veterinary medicine and Public Health.

Contents of Module 2 Mycology:

The Kingdom of Fungi: the role of fungi in nature; morphology, physiology, propagation, reproduction and pathogenicity factors. Classification. Most important fungi in veterinary medicine: Malassezia spp., dermatophytes, Aspergillus spp., Cryptococcus spp., Candida spp.

Practical lectures - Techniques for parasitological and mycological examination of different biological matrices and recognition methods of main mycetes and parasitic protozoans, helminths and arthropods of interest in veterinary medicine and Public Health.

Readings/Bibliography

Needful:

Powerpoint presentations and other teaching materials used by the teachers during the course and uploaded on Piattaforma "Virtuale" (https://virtuale.unibo.it/)

Recommended for insights:

Pampiglione S., Canestri Trotti G., Guida allo studio della parassitologia, Casa Editrice Esculapio, Bologna, 1990.

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

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

Tampieri M.P. Micologia Veterinaria, Uninova, Parma, 2004

Genchi M., Traldi G., Genchi G. Manuale di Parassitologia Veterinaria. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano, 2010.

Peano A. Capitolo 19 "Micologia", in Microbiologia e Immunologia III edizione, ed. Poli G., Casa Editrice Edra, Milano, 2017.

Teaching methods

The course of Parasitology and Mycology ((4 CFU; 48 ore) consists of theoretical and practical lessons and is composed of two modules: Module 1 Parasitology (32 hours of theoretical lessons and 10 of practical lessons × 4 rounds) and Module 2 Micology (6 hours of theoretical lessons). The theoretical lectures take place in a teaching room properly supplied with web-connected PC and PC video-projector, with the backing of power-point slides. The practical lectures, carried out in a properly equipped teaching lab, provide for a constant presence of the teacher and collaborators together with the students, with introductive and explanatory discussions. Every practical training activity is carried out by the student individually or in small groups and subjected to verification and discussion with teachers and their collaborators, with compilation of a learning evaluation form at the end of each practical lecture.

Due to any epidemiological emergencies from COVID-19, the methods of administration of the teaching activities may undergo changes in order to allow the student to follow all the hours of lectures and practices of the teaching course.

Assessment methods

The assessment of learning of the course of Parasitology and Mycology is through a final exam, which ensures the acquisition of knowledge and skills expected by conducting a practical exam, followed by an oral examination composed of questions on the contents of the course. The practical exam consists of the recognition and then description of a parasitic or mycotic agent by the student in order to test his/her capacities acquired during the practical part of the course. The oral examination consists of questions aimed at ascertaining the knowledge acquired by the student on different topics dealt with during the theoretical lectures of the two modules. The test will be passed when a minimum mark of 18/30 will be obtained. The following grading criteria will be followed: preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, expressed in an overall correct language (18-19); preparation on a limited number of topics dealt with in the course and ability to autonomous analysis only on purely executive matters, expression in correct language (20-24); preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology (25-29); substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and connection, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflection (30-30L). The course of Parasitology and Mycology is part of the integrated course of Microbiology and Parasitology, which also includes the courses of Bacteriology and Immunology and Virology. The final grade of the integrated course of Microbiology and Parasitology will be unique and calculated on the basis of the weighted average of the final assessments of the different courses that compose it. Being an integrated course, it has to be specified that the verbalising teacher is Marialetizia Fioravanti.

Teaching tools

The theoretical lectures take place in a classroom supplied with multimedia equipment (web-connected PC and PC video-projector), with powerpoint presentations; practical lessons take place in teaching lab equipped for parasitological analyses, microscopy and staining techniques. Futhermore parasitological and mycological collections will be used by the teahcers during the practical lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Marialetizia Fioravanti

See the website of Roberta Galuppi

SDGs

Good health and well-being Clean water and sanitation Life on land

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.