Course Description
Arthropods of medical and veterinary importance, and the diseases they transmit.
Athena Title
MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ENTO 3650-3650L
Prerequisite
BIOL 1104 or BIOL 1108-1108L
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This is a lecture-only course that surveys the role of arthropods in causing or transmitting human and certain zoonotic diseases. Students requiring a lab as well should instead enroll in Medical Entomology. Upon completion of the course, students will have gained: A basic understanding of how arthropods function as living organisms. A basic understanding of disease transmission dynamics, and an appreciation of how those dynamics are influenced by arthropod-borne transmission. An understanding of the complex ways in which arthropods, pathogens, and human or zoonotic hosts interact to result in a disease state. This will include an appreciation for how human activities frequently inadvertently modify conditions to favor disease transmission. Detailed knowledge of the arthropods, pathogens, and vertebrate reservoirs involved in many diseases. This knowledge will include identifying characteristics, life cycles, and ecology of relevant arthropods; nature and life cycles of relevant pathogens; understanding of the ecological interactions that lead to disease transmission; understanding of the biological bases for disease pathology; information about medical approaches to treating or mitigating many of these diseases. An understanding of strategies that have proven useful for management of disease-causing arthropods. An appreciation for the impact of arthropod-transmitted diseases on individuals and societies.
Topical Outline
Introduction Overview of Arthropods Anatomy and physiology of Arthropods Evolution of blood feeding Arthropods and disease: concepts and principles Acari: the ticks and mites Cockroaches and nuisance invaders; insecticide resistance Midterm test 1 (Units 1-5) Phthiraptera: Lice Hemiptera: True Bugs Siphonaptera: Fleas Culicidae: Mosquitoes Mosquito-borne diseases Arboviruses Mosquito-borne diseases Malaria Mosquito-borne diseases Filariasis Psychodidae: Sand flies Ceratopogonidae: Midges Midterm test 2 (Units5-8) Simuliidae: Black flies Brachycerous and Muscoid Flies Stinging and venomous arthropods
Syllabus