07325 - Veterinary Parasitology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students should: know which parasites and fungi cause diseases; how to prepare appropriate clinical samples; how to identify the more important parasites and mycetes and how to distinguish them from findings; how parasites cause disease; have adequate knowledge of parasite biology and the epidemiology of parasitic diseases to understanding and plan rational control and prophylactic strategies; be familiar with the drugs and vaccines used in parasite control with reference to human public health (zoonoses).

Course contents

Parasitic associations (Symbiosis, Phoresis, Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism); Definition of parasitism; Economic and healthy importance of parasitism; What is parasitology; Types of parasites; Mechanisms of infection; Types of host and vector; Parasite reservoirs; Morphology, nomenclature, taxonomy and classification; Biological cycles; Hosts-parasites relationship; Fundamentals of immunology; Parasitic diseases concepts; Symptoms and Pathology; Diagnosis; Treatment, Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic diseases; Parasitic zoonoses.

Phylum Protozoa: Ciliophora (Balantidium coli); Sarcodina (Entamoeba); Mastigophora or Flagellates (Giardia, Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Tritrichomonas, Trichomonas, Histomonas) Apicomplexa or Sporozoa (Eimeria, Isospora, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Babesia, Theileria, Plasmodium)

Phylum Platyhelminthes or Flatworm: Trematoda (Digenea:Fasciola, Dicrocoelium, Schistosoma, Alaria; Monogenea: Dactylogyrus, Gyrodactylus, Diplectanum, Diplozoon); Cestoda (Cyclophyllidea: Taenia, Multiceps, Echinococcus, Davainea, Raillietina, Hymenolepis, Dipylidium canimum, Anoplocephala, Moniezia; Pseudophyllidea: Diphyllobothrium latum, Spirometra.)

Phylum Nemathelminthes or Nematoda: Rhabditida (Strongyloides); Strongylida (Strongylus, Cyathostomum, Oesophagostomum, Chabertia, Ancylostoma, Uncinaria, Bunostomum, Ostertagia, Cooperia, Trichostrongylus, Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Nematodirus, Hyostrongylus, Syngamus, Stephanurus, Dictyocaulus, Muellerius, Protostrongylus, Metastrongylus) Ascaridida (Ascaris, Parascaris, Toxocara, Toxascaris, Ascaridia, Anisakis) Oxyurida (Oxyuris, Passalurus, Heterakis) Spirurida(Habronema, Thelazia, Spirocerca, Dirofilaria, Parafilaria, Setaria) Trichinellida (Trichinella, Trichuris, Capillaria) Dioctophymatida (Dictophyma).

Phylum Arthropoda: Mallophaga, Anoplura, Siphonaptera, Diptera (Nematocera, Brachycera, Cyclorrhapha,); Acarina( Ticks and mites)

Phylum Fungi: Malassezia, Dermatophytes, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Candida

Readings/Bibliography

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

Urquhart M., Armour J., Duncan J.L., Dunn A.M., Jennings F.W., Parassitologia veterinaria, UTET, Torino, 1998.

Pampiglione S., Canestri Trotti G., Guida allo studio della Parassitologia, Esculapio, Bologna, 1990.

Taylor M.A., Coop R.L., Wall R.L. Parassitologia e Malattie parassitarie degli Animali, E.M.S.I., Roma 2010 - 1° Edizione Italiana (Aggiornata e coordinata da Garippa G., Manfredi M.T., Otranto D.)

Teaching methods

The course consist in both theoretical and practical lessons

Assessment methods

The examination is with the Prof. of Parasitic diseases

Teaching tools

The theoretical lectures take place in a classroom supplied with multimedia equipment (PC and PC video-projector), with powerpoint slides; practical lessons take place in equipped laboratories also with parasitological collection.

 

Office hours

See the website of Maria Paola Tampieri