Parasitology

Code:

MV226

Acronym:

PR

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 13-06-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Molecular Pahology and Immunology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	79	Official Study Plan	2	-	5	56	135

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

The general objective of the Veterinary Parasitology Course is to provide to the students a broad knowledge of the main parasites and parasitosis afflicting domestic animals in Portugal. It is also intended that students develop critical capacity and self-learning attitudes.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course the students should be able to: 1. To correctly identify the main parasites using their morphological traits and localization in an animal. 2. Describe the biology and life cycle of the main parasites and relate those with the kind of phisiopathological changes the cause in their hosts. 3. indicate how the main parasites/parasitosis are transmited and which are the epidemiological factors responsible for the transmission and prevalence of such parasitosis. 4. Suggest, for each parasitosis, adequate control measures. 5. Explain the importance of the different zoonoses to public health. 6. Identify the most adequate diagnostic procedures to identify the different parasitosis and perform the most common. 7. Present and discute research articles within the scope of the unit.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Lectures 1 and 2 - Introduction to the Parasitology course. What is the place for this course in the veterinary curriculum? Objectives and structure of the course. Teaching methods and evaluation process. Lectures 3 and 4 - The protozoa: general characteristics. The different groups (Phyla) of protozoa: Sarcomastigophora, Ciliophora and Sporozoa. Brief reference to sarcodina (Ameba). The Trypanosomes and Leishmania. Lectures 5 and 6 - Flagerllate of the reproductive and digestive tracts. Eimeria sp. Lectures 7 and 8 - The other Coccidia: Genera Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis. Os Piroplasmida: Babesia and Theileria. Lectures 9 and 10 - The Helminthes: Nematodes, Trematodes and Cestoda. Trycostrongylids: Haemonchus, Ostertagis, Dictyocaulus. Reference to other genera of less importance. Lectures 11 and 12 - Strongylids: Strongylus, Trichonema, Syngamus, Triodontophorous and Oesophagostomum. The ancylostomids. Lectures 13 and 14 - Ascaridids. Ascaris, Toxocara, Ascaridia, Heterakis and Parascaris; Oxiurids: O. equi. Filarids: Parafilaria, Dirofilaria and onchocerca. tricurids: Trichuris, Capillaria and Trichinella. Lectures 15 and 16 - The Trematodes and Fasciola hepatica. Other genera: Dicrocoelium, Paramphistomum and Schistosoma. Lectures 17 and 18 - The Cestodes. Tenids, Anoplocefalids and Dipylidium. Lectures 19 and 20 - Discussion with the students. "Protozoa and helminths as agents of zoonosis" Lectures 21 and 22 - Laboratory diagnosis of infections by protozoa and helminths. Artropods and their veterinary importance. insecta and Arachnida. Lectures 23 and 24 - Diptera: Culicoides, Simulium, Phlebotomus, Tabanus and Culicidae. Flies and lice. Lectures 25 and 26 - Muscomorpha: study of the genera with medical importance, mainly as agents of myasis. Lectures 27 and 28 - Ticks: Argasidae and Ixodidae.

Mandatory literature

Taylor M. A.; Veterinary parasitology. ISBN: 978-0-470-67162-7
Jacobs Dennis 070; Principles of veterinary parasitology. ISBN: 978-0-470-67042-2
Zajac Anne; Veterinary clinical parasitology. ISBN: 978-0-8138-2053-8
Bowman Dwight D.; Georgis. parasitology for veterinarians. ISBN: 0-7216-5589-0

Complementary Bibliography

Urquhart G. M. 070; Parasitologia veterinária. ISBN: 85-277-0456-0
Georgi Jay R.; Parasitologia veterinária
Hendrix Charles M.; Diagnostic parasitology for veterinary technicians. ISBN: 978-0-323-07761-3

Comments from the literature

Students will be asked to study research and review papers.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and Practicals

keywords

Health sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	90,00
Teste	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	9,00
Estudo autónomo	70,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Lectures and Practicals

Type of evaluation: Avaliação distribuída com exame final

Terms of frequency: In the end of the year there is one written examination which includes a practical component – this final exam accounts for 90% of the final mark.
Students will also be asked to carry out additional pieces of work (short quizzes during class or at distance, paper discussions, essays, etc). These works will be marked with 2 values.

Formula Evaluation: Final exam: 18 values. Assessment along the year up to 2 values. Students must obtain a minimum of 50% in the final exame to obtain approval.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Written examination: 18 values. Students can be asked to prepare additional pieces of work (paper discussions, essays, etc).  For calculation of the final mark, the exams account up to 18 values and the assessment along the year up to 2 values. Students must obtain a minimum of 50% in the written exame (or in the middle-term examinations) to obtain approval.

Evaluation: Final written exam: 18 values. Assessment along the year up to 2 values. Students must obtain a minimum of 50% in the final exame to obtain approval.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Each week students will enroll for a quiz on the subject of the previous week and to prepare other types of works (paper discussions, essays, etc).These works account for 2 values of the total mark.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to the University rules

Classification improvement

According to the University rules