Course Description
The pathology, cellular, and molecular biology of protozoan and metazoan parasites that cause disease in humans and animals, with current topics and controversies in animal and human parasitology. Modern advances in fundamental knowledge as well as control will be discussed. Specific topics will be examined in-depth in student-led sessions.
Athena Title
PARA DISEASES
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in PARA 8030
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The goals of this course are to provide an overview of parasites and the diseases they cause in humans and animals. Our current understanding of the molecular and cellular explanations for specific symptoms will be examined. A critical view of current control and elimination efforts will be encouraged. On completion of this course, students should have an appreciation of the diversity of parasitic species and also of the common principles that underlie parasitism. After taking this course the student should be able to: * describe and explain recent developments in parasitology and place them in the context of current research; * present to, and discuss with, their peers about these mechanisms.
Topical Outline
Lectures Introduction to parasites and parasitism, their impact on parasitic diseases on human and animal health. Parasite life- cyles – principles and examples; the importance of vectors and paratenic hosts. Two lectures. Helminths: anatomy and neurophysiology. Three lectures. This will cover nematodes, trematodes and cestodes. Neurophysiology is included as helminth nervous systems are the most important drug targets, and because of their role in controlling parasite behavior, which is crucial to understanding pathogenesis. Protozoan and helminth diseases of humans and animals. Six lectures. These will cover the major tropical and veterinary diseases, including those caused by apicomplexans, kinetoplastids, amoeba, GI and tissue nematodes, flukes (including schistosomiasis) and tapeworms. Throughout this section, this emphasis will be on seeking to understand parasite host selection and position finding as a cause of the symptoms observed. Prevention and treatment of parasite disease. Four lectures. This section will cover the drugs currently used to treat and prevent disease, including their mode of action and the way in which parasites become resistant to them. Lab Sessions Two two-hour lab sessions will be held to illustrate parasite taxonomy, anatomy and pathology. These will make use of resources already held by the College of Veterinary Medicine. Student-led Discussion Sessions Thirteen two-hour sessions will be held covering specific topics of wider interest in parasitology. For each session, two students will prepare a fifty minute presentation on the topic, introducing the problems to be discussed. They, and the rest of the class, will be provided with a basic reading list, but should obviously carry out more research. In their presentation, they should identify key issues for discussion in the second part. In this part, the whole class will discuss the presentations and attempt to reach conclusions. The exact topics to be discussed may vary, depending on what is current at the time, but will probably include some of the following: The Hygiene Hypothesis; Why are there so few anti- parasite vaccines?; Elimination Programs – are they really such a good idea?; The importance of refugia in reducing the emergence of drug resistance in livestock; How can the refugium idea be applied to human disease?; Should we just give up human parasitology research and just provide better sanitation?; Delusional parasitosis; Is there drug resistance in canine heartworm? The socio-economic consequences of parasite infections (human and animal) and how they can be reduced – this topic will be split into several sessions, each covering a distinct geographical area, e.g., the State of Georgia, Peruvian Andes, Cameroon. Assessment. A final exam will be held in the last of the two-hour sessions. This will be based on the lecture material and will be worth 40% of the course assessment. 50% of the assessment will be based on a 3,000 word essay based on one of the presentations the student has made. 10% of the mark will be awarded on the students contributions to the class discussions, based on the instructor’s observations.