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2020/2021

Parasitology

Code: 102659 ECTS Credits: 3
Degree Type Year Semester
2502445 Veterinary Medicine OB 1 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Joaquín Castellà Espuny
Email:
Joaquim.Castella@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Teachers

Joaquín Castellà Espuny
David Ferrer Bermejo
Ana Maria Ortuño Romero

Prerequisites

Although there are no official prerequisites, it is advisable for the student to review the basic contents of Biology.

Objectives and Contextualisation

This is a compulsory subject in the first year in which the student will have to acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge that will allow him to know the techniques and basic methods to study the parasites. The objectives of this subject are the study of parasites of domestic and useful animals as disease-causing agents and introduce the knowledge of the morphology, biomedicine, physiology and systematics of the parasites of domestic animals and to show the importance of the relationships between parasite, host and the environment.
										
											Develop the student's attitude towards the Parasitic Diseases and Zoonoses and Public Health disciplines.

Competences

  • Analyse, synthesise and resolve problems and make decisions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and differentiation of the main biological agents of veterinary interest.
  • Perform basic analytical techniques and interpret the clinical, biological and chemical results, and interpret the results of tests generated by other laboratories.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse the importance of parasites in the field of animal health, public health and animal products.
  2. Analyse, synthesise and resolve problems and make decisions.
  3. Explain the basic principles of relationships between parasites and hosts.
  4. Obtain, treat, recognise, identify and classify the main species of parasites of veterinary interest.
  5. Properly apply the nomenclature and systematics of parasites.
  6. Recognise the morphology and biology of the main parasites that affect animals.

Content

General concepts of parasitology and parasitism. Relationships between parasites and hosts. Study of biology, morphology and systematics of protozoa, helminths and arthropods of veterinary interest. This subject will be taught in five blocks:
										
											
										
											1- GENERAL CONCEPTS 
										
											
										
											Presentation. General concepts Types of parasites. Types of hosts. Biological cycles. Interactions between hosts and parasites.
										
											
										
											2- PROTOZOUS
										
											
										
											Introduction to Protists. Flagellates of the digestive tract. Leishmania Hematozous.Coccidies of direct cycle. Coccidis formers of cysts
										
											
										
											3- PLATYHELMINTHES (FLATWORMS and TAPEWORMS)
										
											
										
											Introduction to flatworms. Fasciola and Dicrocoelium. Introduction to tapeworms. Taenia genus
										
											
										
											
										
											4- NEMATHELMINTHES 
										
											
										
											Introduction. Rhabditida. Oxyurida. Ascaridida. Strongylida. Spirurida. Enoplida. 

5- ARTHROPODS Introduction to veterinary entomology. Mites and ticks. Fleas and lice. Diptera

Methodology

The methodology that will be carried out during the entire learning process is based essentially on the student's work, and the teacher will be in charge of helping him both with regard to the necessary information and in the direction of his work. In accordance to the training objectives of the subject and of each one of the modules that comprise it, the training activities that will be carried out are:
										
											 
										
											Lectures: Student acquires the basic scientific and technical knowledge of the subject that must complement with the personal study of the concepts explained.
										
											
										
											Practical sessions: These sessions aim to develop skills and integrate previously acquired knowledge into theoretical classes. The students will have the scripts to be able to develop each one of the practical sessions.
										
											
										
											The teaching material used in the course will be available on the Virtual Campus. Thus, the student will find the presentations (in pdf format) that the teacher will use in class, to use it as a support when taking notes. This platform will also be used as a mechanism for the exchange of information and documents between the teaching staff and the students.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lab practical sessions 10 0.4 1, 2, 5, 4, 6
Lectures 16 0.64 1, 5, 3, 4, 6
Type: Autonomous      
Self-learning 12 0.48 1, 2, 6
study 34 1.36 1, 2, 4, 6

Assessment

In order to pass the subject, students will have to pass different evaluation tests:
										
											
										
											A test in the classroom that will be done at the end of the subject and evaluate the theoretical contents and that will ponder 40% of the final grade. The test can combine test and short answer questions.
										
											
										
											A second test, also carried out in the classroom, will evaluate the theoretical and practical knowledge based on pictures that will include all the contents of the subject (theory and practice). The questions may also be considered in a test or short question format, the weighting of this part will be 35%.
										
											
										
											The practices will be evaluated in the laboratory and the final grade obtained will measure 25% of the final mark of the subject. In this case, certain situations and problems will be considered and the students will have to analyze them, make decisions and solve them. The attitude and the interest of the student in the course of the practice will be taken into account.
										
											
										
											The three parts will be compensable from a minimum mark. In order to pass the subject, you must obtain a final grade of at least 5 out of 10. Those students who have not passed any of the two classroom tests may submit the day of the recovery, examining the part or parts suspended.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Exams. Written / oral tests and reviews. Continuous evaluation 100 3 0.12 1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 6

Bibliography

Llibres de text

BOWMAN, D.D. (1999). Georgi's Parasitology for veterinarians. Seventh edition. Saunders & Co. Toronto. CORDERO DEL CAMPILLO, M. y col. (1999). Parasitología Veterinaria. McGraw-Hill - Interamericana.

Madrid.

 

GEORGI, J.R. & GEORGI, M.E. (1992) . Canine clinical parasitology. Lea & Febiger. Philadelphia. JACOBS, D.E. (1986) . A colour atlas of equine parasites. Baillière Tindall. London.

KAUFMANN, J (1996) . Parasitic infections of Domestic Animals. Birkhäuser Verlag. Basel.

 

MEHLHORN, H. & PIEKARSKI, G. (1993) . Fundamentos de parasitología: parásitos del hombre y de los animales domésticos. (trad. de la 3ª edición alemana). Editorial Acribia. Zaragoza.

 

SOULSBY, E.J.L. (1987) . Parasitología y enfermedades parasitarias de los animales domésticos. Trad. 7ª ed. Editorial Interamericana. México.

 

URQUHART, G.M. et al. (1996) . Veterinary Parasitology. Second Edition. Blackwell Science. UK.

 

Webs

 

http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/