Cellular and Molecular Biology

PARASITOLOGY

SVB006

Academic year 2017/2018

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Program
• Suggested textbooks and readings
• Notes
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

The teaching objectives are to illustrate through the biological cycles and the host-parasite interactions the evolution, epidemiology, pathogenesis and immunology of the most important parasitic diseases of humans with hints on clinical, diagnostic and public health aspects.  The teaching wishes to stimulate the students to deepen their knowledge on different topics of parasitology through the lens of history, biology, pharmacology, economy and human development, and of international health themes of global relevance. 

Results of learning outcomes

Parasitology is a discipline which demands a multi-disciplinary approach. Parasites, in fact, are a hazard for human and animal health, they can be transmitted by insect vectors, and their transmission is often due to insufficient hygienic-sanitary conditions. This is confirmed by the fact that these infections hit mainly countries with limited resources, lacking a sewage system and proper sanitation facilities, access to safe water and with a warm and tropical climate. This situation is worsened by the vicious cycle poverty-disease.  Parasitic diseases have had and still have a huge socio-economic burden and their control is one of the worldwide challenges to improve the health and development of entire communities. Parasitology is fascinating because it goes beyond the relationship between host and parasite and entangles aspects of anthropology, social sciences, public health, environment, human and veterinary medicine, and ultimately, economic and human development.  

The teaching of parasitology is of fundamental importance for the student who wishes to approach these global challenges and also for those who plan to look for a professional occupation in Italy, being parasitic diseases emerging or-remerging associated with travels and population migrations. The aim of the course is therefore to complement a traditional approach in which the students are introduced to the world of parasites and their diseases. The Course is structured in order to give a general overview of these diseases from the epidemiology to the diagnosis, with a particular focus to up-to-date hot topics like migrations movements, new technologies, epidemics and drug resistance. The special part of parasitology teaching deals with the specific host-parasite interaction for the main species which are pathogens to humans, the biological hazard for the host, and explores in details the big endemic parasitic diseases and the public health aspects related to their control in endemic communities. The lecturers will try also to transfer their experience as parasitologists and experts in international health acquired during years of work in countries where parasites are endemic.

Learning assessment methods

Oral interview  

Support activities

Equipment in the cell biology lab in via Michelangelo:microscopes, microscope slides, computer projector, DVD, reagents.

Program

The teaching material and content presented and discussed during the lectures is available on University website in Cell Biology under the topic  Course of Parasitology.

The text recommended for the training is :
Ivo de Carneri "Parassitologia medica e diagnostica parassitologica" Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

The use and reading of the following texts is an added advantage for more detailed knowledge and insights:
District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries, Cheesbrough, Ed. Tropical health technology

Basic laboratory methods in medical parasitology, OMS Ginevra

Atlas of Medical Parasitology, www.cdfound.to.it, Editor P. Caramello

The following websites could be of interest:
www.who.int
www.simetweb.it
www.gnntdc.sabin.org
www.ilgirodelmondo.it
www.cdfound.to.it
www.cdc.gov
www.tropicalmed.eu

Note

The course is held every other year and therefore, it gathers students of the 1st and 2nd year.   

The participants who are particularly motivated and interested to develop topics of parasitology for their thesis may be followed and supervised in stages according to the availability of time and resources of the lecturers.

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums