Course Description
Parasites have regulatory effects on host populations, impart significant economic impact, and are sensitive indicators of pollution as well as other natural and anthropogenic effects. This course examines the interaction of parasites with their hosts. Host-parasite interaction creates a unique physiological and genetic system as both host and parasite adjust and adapt to the pressures imposed by the other. Modes of parasitism, life cycles, mechanisms of infection, alteration of host behaviour, and novel physiological pathways will be examined as a biological arms race is waged between genetically distinct organisms.
Practical content
- Classification and morphology of the freshwater snails.
- Classification of the Arthropods.
- Ticks & Food Born.
- Disease life cycle.
- Fish-shellfish and mollusc.
- Borne parasitic zoonoses.
- Fish-borne trematodes& nematodes.
- -Meat-Borne Parasitic Zoonoses.
Course Objectives & Outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
- Provide students with a basic understanding of the concept of parasites and parasitism (including communalism, mutualistic, and truly parasitic associations) - the most common ecological association between extant eukaryotic species on the planet.
- Explore the current breadth of parasitic agents known to infect wildlife, domestic animals, and humans globally.
- Differentiate between various complex life cycles and strategies of host exploitation.
- Examine the patterns of development in various parasitic agents, and thus the basis of their successful transmission from host to host (pathogenesis and pathology associated with these agents will be explored where relevant).
- Gain experience and understanding in the basic laboratory diagnostic methods of parasitology (e.g. faecalflotations, skin scraping, and Baermann techniques).
- Introduce the variety of strategies currently employed to control some of the medically and/or economically important parasites.
References
1. Hatcher, M. J. and A. M. Dunn (2011), Parasites in ecological communities: from interactions to ecosystems, : Cambridge University Press.
2. Murrell, K. D., and B. Fried, (2007). Food-borne parasitic zoonoses: fish and plant-borne parasites, v. 11, Springer Science & Business Media.
3. Grimes, L. R. (2007). 'Evolutionary Ecology of Parasites. Robert Poulin', Integrative and comparative biology, 47(6): 896-896
Course ID: BIOL 454
| Credit hours | Theory | Practical | Laboratory | Lecture | Studio | Contact hours | Pre-requisite | 2 | - | - |
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