Advanced Course in Diagnosing, Monitoring and Controlling Parasitic Disease
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide an in-depth analysis of parasitic diseases of companion animals (domestic carnivores and non-conventional pets) and bees, focusing on skills that will allow the student to choose and undertake the most correct diagnostic procedure depending on the host species and their breeding/maintenance conditions, as well as implementing the most appropriate monitoring, prophylaxis and control plans in the context of medical-veterinary, exhibition/recreational, breeding facilities, and shelters.
Expected learning outcomes
Applying knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, acquired advanced skills in diagnostic techniques, monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans for parasitic diseases (including fungal aetiology) will allow the students to apply this knowledge in the previously described contexts of companion animals and honey bee medicine. In particular, they will be able to create specific monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans for the different host species depending on the management conditions and correctly choose and carry out the most appropriate parasitological diagnostic techniques.
Making judgments: the students will be able to choose and use autonomously the most appropriate parasitological diagnostic techniques in relation to different hosts and contexts; thanks to the acquired skills, they will also be able to choose and critically discuss monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans.
Communication: the students will be able to express themselves with scientifically appropriate terminology referring to parasitic diseases of companion animals and bees and present and discuss parasitological analyses' results through adequate reporting. Further, they will be able to scientifically clearly discuss among peers the monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans in different management conditions and explain them to non-experts
Learning skills: the students will acquire an adequate study method and good mental organization, which will allow him to choose the parasitological diagnostic techniques and to apply the most suitable monitoring, prophylaxis and control plans in any new situations, with the help of the available sources of knowledge.
At the end of the course, acquired advanced skills in diagnostic techniques, monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans for parasitic diseases (including fungal aetiology) will allow the students to apply this knowledge in the previously described contexts of companion animals and honey bee medicine. In particular, they will be able to create specific monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans for the different host species depending on the management conditions and correctly choose and carry out the most appropriate parasitological diagnostic techniques.
Making judgments: the students will be able to choose and use autonomously the most appropriate parasitological diagnostic techniques in relation to different hosts and contexts; thanks to the acquired skills, they will also be able to choose and critically discuss monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans.
Communication: the students will be able to express themselves with scientifically appropriate terminology referring to parasitic diseases of companion animals and bees and present and discuss parasitological analyses' results through adequate reporting. Further, they will be able to scientifically clearly discuss among peers the monitoring, prophylaxis, and control plans in different management conditions and explain them to non-experts
Learning skills: the students will acquire an adequate study method and good mental organization, which will allow him to choose the parasitological diagnostic techniques and to apply the most suitable monitoring, prophylaxis and control plans in any new situations, with the help of the available sources of knowledge.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Prerequisites for admission
No specific prerequisites are required.
Assessment methods and Criteria
At the end of the course, each student will have to prepare a presentation about a case study relating to one of the topics proposed during the training activity. The final mark will be expressed out of thirty
Diagnosis, monitoring and control of parasitic diseases of non-conventional companion animals.
Course syllabus
Diagnosis of parasitic infections of lagomorphs, rodents, birds and reptiles (16 hours, practical laboratory activities)
Parasitic infections of ornamental fish: biology, diagnostic techniques, monitoring and control (4 hours, seminars)
Monitoring, prophylaxis and control plans for parasitic diseases of lagomorphs, rodents, birds and reptiles (12 hours, seminars)
Parasitic infections of ornamental fish: biology, diagnostic techniques, monitoring and control (4 hours, seminars)
Monitoring, prophylaxis and control plans for parasitic diseases of lagomorphs, rodents, birds and reptiles (12 hours, seminars)
Teaching methods
During practical laboratory activities, students will use the most suitable parasitological diagnostic methods to recognize the diagnostic stages of parasitic infections in the different host species considered. The seminars will allow the students to address the possible interventions to be adopted for the prophylaxis and control of parasitic diseases in the different conditions of maintenance/breeding, also considering peculiar biological aspects characterizing some of the species considered.
Teaching Resources
Slides and other teaching materials will be available on the Course's MyAriel website, as well as a specific bibliography recommended by the teacher.
Diagnosis, monitoring and control of fungal diseases of companion animals.
Course syllabus
Diagnosis of fungal infections (practical laboratory activities, 8 hours).
Cutaneous, subcutaneous and deep mycoses of domestic carnivores: diagnosis and control (seminars, 8 hours)
Cutaneous, subcutaneous and deep mycoses of domestic carnivores: diagnosis and control (seminars, 8 hours)
Teaching methods
The course includes a practical part (preparation of slides and microscopic identification of fungi, methods of sample collection and conservation and the preparation of cultures) and seminars, which will provide information on the biology of fungi useful for the diagnosis and control of diseases caused by them in domestic carnivores, with particular attention to zoonotic ones.
Teaching Resources
Specific literature, slides and other material provided by the teacher.
Companion animals ectoparasites and emerging vector-borne diseases.
Course syllabus
Identification of ectoparasites of domestic carnivores (lab activity, 4 hours)
Control of ectoparasites of domestic carnivores and prevention of transmitted diseases (seminar, 4 hours)
Emerging vector-borne parasitic diseases of companion animals (seminar, 4 hours)
Laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases transmitted by arthropods (lab activity, 4 hours)
Control of ectoparasites of domestic carnivores and prevention of transmitted diseases (seminar, 4 hours)
Emerging vector-borne parasitic diseases of companion animals (seminar, 4 hours)
Laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases transmitted by arthropods (lab activity, 4 hours)
Teaching methods
The first part of the course includes practical activities aimed at training students to recognise ectoparasites in dogs and cats. The topics will be addressed based on recent scientific studies and will be preparatory to the second part, in which the different approaches to the control of ectoparasites that can be adopted depending on the type of ectoparasite will be discussed. The prevention of transmitted diseases will also be discussed. It is also planned to complete and deepen the knowledge of the main parasitic pathogens transmitted by arthropods and the laboratory diagnosis of their induced parasitic diseases.
Teaching Resources
Specific literature, slides and other material provided by the teacher.
Diagnosis, monitoring and control of endoparasites of domestic carnivores.
Course syllabus
Diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasitic infections of domestic carnivores (10 hours, laboratory practical activities)
Diagnosis of bronchopulmonary parasitic infections of domestic carnivores (3 hours, laboratory practical activities)
Diagnosis of cardiovascular infections of domestic carnivores (3 hours, laboratory practical activities)
Monitoring, prophylaxis and control plans for endoparasitic infections of domestic carnivores (16 hours, seminars)
Diagnosis of bronchopulmonary parasitic infections of domestic carnivores (3 hours, laboratory practical activities)
Diagnosis of cardiovascular infections of domestic carnivores (3 hours, laboratory practical activities)
Monitoring, prophylaxis and control plans for endoparasitic infections of domestic carnivores (16 hours, seminars)
Teaching methods
During laboratory practical activities, students will use the most suitable parasitological methods to recognize the diagnostic stages of parasitic infections in domestic carnivores. The seminar activities will allow the students to implement prophylaxis and control plans for parasitic diseases in different conditions of maintenance/breeding.
Teaching Resources
Slides and other teaching materials will be available on the Course's MyAriel website, as well as a specific bibliography recommended by the teacher.
Molecular teqchniques in veterinary parasitology
Course syllabus
Biomolecular techniques applied to parasitology (DNA extraction from complex matrices, qualitative PCR, diagnostic tools for the detection/identification of parasites): (4 hours, seminar)
DNA extraction from a parasite of unknown morphological identification with a commercial kit, application of a diagnostic tool for molecular identification: (8 hours, laboratory practical activities)
Results of research developed in the parasitological field following biotechnological approaches (4 hours, seminars)
DNA extraction from a parasite of unknown morphological identification with a commercial kit, application of a diagnostic tool for molecular identification: (8 hours, laboratory practical activities)
Results of research developed in the parasitological field following biotechnological approaches (4 hours, seminars)
Teaching methods
The teacher will guide the student through practical lessons, laboratory exercises, and seminars on scientific studies recently published on this topic, helping the student understand the main biotechnological methods to be applied in veterinary parasitology.
Teaching Resources
Slides uploaded on the course Ariel website.
Honey bee parasites and parasitic disease in a changing world
Course syllabus
Parasites and parasitic diseases of honeybees: elements of morphology, impact, diagnosis, therapy and prevention (seminars, 8 hours)
Effects of environmental changes on the mechanisms of innate and social immunity of bees and related host-parasite interactions in the function of effective control (practical activities, 8 hours)
Effects of environmental changes on the mechanisms of innate and social immunity of bees and related host-parasite interactions in the function of effective control (practical activities, 8 hours)
Teaching methods
Seminars will focus on basic aspects and case studies, and practical activities will be performed both in the laboratory and in the field, focused on morphological and molecular techniques for monitoring bee parasites and evaluating the antiparasitic response at the colony level as a function of environmental stressors.
Teaching Resources
Slides and other teaching materials will be available on the Course's MyAriel website, as well as a specific bibliography recommended by the teacher.
Companion animals ectoparasites and emerging vector-borne diseases.
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Diagnosis, monitoring and control of endoparasites of domestic carnivores.
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 2
Practicals: 32 hours
Diagnosis, monitoring and control of fungal diseases of companion animals.
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Diagnosis, monitoring and control of parasitic diseases of non-conventional companion animals.
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 2
Practicals: 32 hours
Honey bee parasites and parasitic disease in a changing world
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours
Molecular teqchniques in veterinary parasitology
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 1
Practicals: 16 hours