Biological associations and symbioses: mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. Evolution of symbioses and parasitism. Historical epidemiology. Relationships of hosts-parasites –vectors; intermediate host. Cycles, epidemiology and pathology of the human parasites. Zooflagellates, Entamoebae, Coccidia. Malaria disease and human Plasmodia. Platelminta Digenea and Cestoda. Nematoda: preadaptation to parasitology and cycles of parasite species. Irudinea and parasite and vector Arthropoda.
Libri di testo
Ivo De Carneri, Parassitologia generale e umana, Ambrosiana, Milano.
Learning Objectives
Knolewdge acquired: Biological associations and evolution of parasitism, hosts, parasites, vectors and their relationships. Detailed knowledge of biological cycles, epidemiology and pathology of human parasites.
Competence acquired: Morphological identification and diagnostics of human and animal parasites using optical microscopy.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Understanding of the evolution of parasite-host-vector relationships. Understanding of epidemiology of human parasites and their geographic distributions. Understanding of issues and problems related to parasite diseases, including prophylaxis.
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended)
Numero di ore totali del corso: 150 (= 6 x 25) Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 150
Numero di ore per studio personale e altre attività formative di tipo individuale: 102 Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 102
Numero di ore relative alle attività in aula: 48 Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 48
Numero di ore relative ad attività di laboratorio (lezioni in laboratorio): 0 Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 0
Numero di ore relative ad attività di esercitazioni (in laboratorio e in campo): 0 Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 0
Numero di ore relative ad attività seminariali: 0 Seminars (hours): 0
Numero di ore relative ad attività di stage: 0 Stages: 0
Numero di ore per prove in itinere: 0 Intermediate examinations: 0
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
Strongly recommended
Teaching tools:
Parasites samples to be studied at the microscope; videos on cycles and epidemiology of human parasites (also at disposal of students in the Library of Sciences - Animal Biology)
Office hours:
on Wednesdays, 10-12h, upon phone call or e-mail
Type of Assessment
Exam modality: oral test
Identification and morphological diagnostic of human parasites; oral verification of knowledge acquired
Course program
Course Contents (detailed programme):
Definition of biological associations and symbioses: mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. Evolution of symbioses and parasitism. Historical epidemiology: human populations and parasites. Adaptation of parasites and contra-adaptation of hosts: an escalation. Biodiversity and parasites; pesticides and parasites. How parasites find their hosts; learning of host characteristics.
Accidental parasites: Naegleria.
Host manipulation by parasites.
Relationships of parasite-host-vector; role and importance of intermediate hosts.
Zooflagellata: Trypanosomatidae and trypanosome disease. Trypanosoma bruces brucei, T. b. gambiense, T. b. rhodesiense, T. cruzi. Leshmainia tropica, L. donovani, L. infantum, L. braziliensis.
Polymorphismus and transmission of Trypanosamatidae parasites. Polymastigophora: Trychomonas vaginalis, Giardia lamblia. Entamoeba: Entamoba histolytica and other commensal Entamoeba. Apicomplexa: Cycles of Coccidia. Toxoplasma gondii and toxoplasmosis. Malaria disease: trasmission and epidemiology. Cycle of Plasmodium and evolution. The human Plasmodia: morphological identification and diagnosis with the microscope.
Morphological and physiological adaptation of Digenea and evolution. Digenea Trematoda: Fasciolopsis buski, Fasciola hepatica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Chlonorchis sinensis, Opistorchis felineus. Bilarziosis: Schistosoma mansoni , S. japonicum, S. haematobium.
Cestoda: evolution and adaptation. Cycles and epidemiology of di Diphyllobotrium
latum, Taenia solium, T. saginata, Dipylidium caninum, Hymenolepis nana, H. diminuta,
Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis. Echinococcosis disease.
Nematoda: preadaptation to parasitism; reproduction and cycles. Nematode parasite of humans: Trichuris trichiura,
Trichinella spiralis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Ankilostoma duodenale, Necator americanus. Filarioidea: Dracunculus medinensis, Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malati, Onchocerca volvulus, Loa
loa.
Irudinea and haematophagous Arthropoda. Insecta as parasites and vectors.
Laboratory: morphological identification with the microscope of human parasites.