Parasitology (Zoology 306)
This course will cover the biology of some important parasitic organisms (protozoa, helminths, and arthropods) of medical and veterinary importance, while promoting a greater understanding of the intricate issues involving parasites and hosts. In the course we will be covering the basic biology, identification, diagnosis, pathology and control of these parasites.
Texts: Roberts and Janovy: Foundations of Parasitology, 7th ed.
Cheng, T.C.: General Parasitology (last ed.)
Olson, O.W.: Animal Parasites: Their Biology and Life Cycles (last ed.)
Instructor: Momen El-Damarany, Phone 2955
Office Hours: W &Th 1-3 pm. and by appointment.
Attendance: You are expected to attend class and lab and are responsible for assigned readings and all material presented in lecture and in lab.
Academic Dishonesty: I assume that you have read and understand the So. U. Policies on academic dishonesty. The penalty for ANY act of dishonesty in this class is a grade of ZERO on the assignment.
Special Needs: If you have a disability and need special accommodations of any nature, I will work with you and the Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform successfully in this class. Please let me know about your disability and the accommodations you desire by the end of the second week of class. To receive services, you must submit appropriate documentation and complete an intake process during which the existence of a qualified disability is verified and reasonable accommodations are identified.
Drop Policy: I assume you are aware of the drop and withdrawal dates and policies listed in the So. U. class schedule
- Course Objectives -- At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
(1) Draw and explain the life cycles of some parasites of humans
(2) Explain the significance of parasite population structures, especially in terms of economic impact, epidemiology, and health care delivery.
(3) Explain the role of vectors in the transmission and maintenance of parasitic infections.
(4) State the major evolutionary problems and questions associated with parasitism and explain how those questions are addressed.
(5) Be able to explain the geographical distribution, disease caused, the pathological effect on the host, diagnostic stages, and treatment for a select number of human and veterinary important parasites.
(6) Demonstrate skill in use of the microscope by finding parasites in various kinds of preparations and explaining what those parasites are, including life cycle stages.
(7) Exhibit ability to solve a parasitological problem by demonstrating an understanding of the problem, obtaining background knowledge about that problem, generating possible
solutions for that problem, identifying and evaluating constraints of those solutions, and selecting a solution.
- Methods/activities used to measure student outcomes: The grades in this class will be determined based on the following:
|
Assessment Tools |
Marks |
of total % |
|
Assignments& Presentation |
7.5 |
10 % |
|
Mid-Term Exam |
7.5 |
10 % |
|
Practical Exam |
15 |
20 % |
|
Final written Exam |
45 |
60 % |
|
Total |
75 |
100 % |
- Tentative
- Course Schedule
I. Lecture
1. Introduction, grading, significance of parasitism in world affairs
2. Outline of “areas of responsibility for a selected group of parasites”
3. Structure of amoebae by ontogenetic stage; life history
4. Amoebiasis: course of infection, gross and histopathology.
5. Epidemiology of intestinal protozoans.
6. Differential diagnosis of amoeba of man; Serodiagnosis and fluorescent antibody techniques
7. Flagellate structure and ontogeny
8. Intestinal flagellates of man
9. Hemoflagellates of man: diagnostic characteristics, ontogeny, and phylogenetic origins
10. Kala Azar: course of infection, gross and histopathology, treatment and prognosis
11. Cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis: clinical manifestations and treatment
12. Trypanosomiasis and human affairs
13. African trypanosomiasis: course of infection, pathology, and treatment
14. Antigenic variation and immunization strategies; current research on trypanosome control
15. American trypanosomiasis: Chagas’ disease
16. Plasmodium life history and course of infection
17. Malaria: pathology, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis
18. Malaria and human affairs including role in evolution of man
29. Current research on malaria control: monoclonal antibody production and recombinant DNA
techniques
20. Exam I
21. Coccidiosis: economic impact in animals and role as human pathogens
22. Toxoplasmosis: epidemiology and course of infection
23. Epidemiological models: mathematical models and malaria, ecological models and control
24. Paragonimiasis: example of detail required in “areas of responsibility”
25. Liver flukes: life history, epidemiology, and pathology
26. Schistosomiasis: course of infection, gross and histopathology, treatment and prognosis
27. Schistosomiasis and human affairs
28. Exam II
29. Psuedophyllidea of man: dibothriocephalus and sparganosis
30. Cyclophyllidea of man: taeniasis and echinococciasis
31. Larval tapeworms and human disease
32. Enterobiasis: clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis, parasitism and human
institutions
33. Trichinosis: course of infection, treatment, biopsies in diagnosis
34. Man and epidemiology of Trichinella spiralis; moral implications of control
35. Trichuriasis and Ascariasis: the diseases
36. Intestinal nematodes.
37. Hookworm disease
38. Filariasis: course of infection, gross pathology, and control
39. Oncocerciasis and land use
40. Final Exam - Laboratory tentative schedule
Week 1 The Orientation, how to use the microscope/alignment, calibration, notebooks and how
to draw specimens
Week 2 Amoeba scan Week
Week 3 Amoeba demo week
Week 4 Intestinal and Reproductive Track Flagellates and MIF
Week 5 Hemoflagellates
Week 6 Malaria
Week 7 Midterm Practical
Week 7 Trematode Anatomy
Week 8 Trematodes
Week 9 Schistosomes and rat infections
Week 10 Cestodes
Week 11 Larval Cestodes and Intro to Nematodes
Week 12 Intro to Nematodes
Week 13 Nematodes
Week 14 Laboratory Practical II