Eco-epidemiology of parasitic diseases

elective courses

Introduction to ecology of parasites. Epidemiological parameters. Water and/or soil borne parasitic infections in humans and animals. Food borne parasitic infections in humans. Parasitic Arthropoda and their role in epidemiology of vector borne infections. Ecology of blood-sucking parasites as a vectors of infections. Population concept of parasites. Factors influencing parasite populations. Communities of parasites. Co-infections and molecular diversity of parasites.

Introduction to ecology of parasites: from individuals to communities. Parasites in different ecosystems and their impact on public health. Horizontal and vertical transmission of the parasites. Water and/or soil borne parasitic infections in humans and animals (Giardia sp., Cryptosporidium sp., Cyclospora cayetanensis, Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Acanthamoeba sp. Naegleria fowleri). Food borne parasitic infections in humans (Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spiralis, Echinococcus sp.). Basic parasitology, origin of the organism, pathogenicity, survival in environment. The methods of detection and molecular epidemiology. Transmission of dispersal stages in the environment. Parasitic Arthropoda and their role in epidemiology of vector borne infections. Ecology of blood-sucking parasites. Tick-borne diseases (TBE, anaplasmosis, borreliosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, rickettsiosis and others). Population concepts of parasites. Interactions between parasite species. Factors influencing parasite populations. Influence of parasites on host populations. Communities of parasites. Co-infections and molecular diversity of parasites. Review of parasitic Protista and their dispersal stages. Review of rodent haemoparasites (Protista and bacteria). How to make and stain blood smears and to estimate parasitemia. Important human microparasites- their vectors, zoonotic reservoir and routes of transmission in environment. Techniques for the detection of dispersal stages of intestinal protozoan parasites (IFA, Ziehl-Neelsena and Giemsa stain). The role of surface water and soil in transmission of oocyst, cysts and helminth eggs. Zoonotic reservoir of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Salt flotation as a technique for the detection of helminth dispersal stages- oncosphers and eggs in stool samples. Surface waters as a habitat of digenean flukes.

Review of rodent helminthes: parasitological autopsy, detection and identification of nematodes, tapeworms and flukes, staining of tapeworms. Parasites found in food- nematodes, tapeworms and flukes; detection of larval tapeworms. Ticks and their role in the transmission of haemoparasites. Ectoparasites found in rodent hosts (fleas, lice and mites) and their role as vectors and intermediate hosts.

Background training- laboratory course (30 hours): traditional techniques for detection, immunodetection, molecular tools for parasite detection (IFA, FISH, PCR).

Obligatory field work- collection of scientific material (30 hours): techniques for parasite detection in the field; blanket dragging of ticks, live-trapping of snails and rodents. Co- infections and/or invasions in host populations. The influence of different factors on the prevalence and abundance of infection in host populations. Epidemiology of parasite infections.

How to get credit: on the basis of self-performed scientific project resulting in scientific poster (1 poster for the group of three students) + individual note for laboratory and field work and for personal engagement in project performance and presentation

Bush, A.O. et al. (2001). Parasitism. The diversity and ecology of animal parasites. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Combes C. (1999). Ekologia i ewolucja pasożytnictwa. Długotrwałe wzajemne oddziaływania. PWN, Warszawa.

Cox, F.E.G. (1993). Modern Parasitology. Blackwell Scietific Publicatiois, Oxford.

Deryło, A. et al. (2002). Parazytologia i akaroentomologia medyczna. PWN, Warszawa.

Melhorn, H. (1988). Parasitology in Focus, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

After completion of the course student shall present the knowledge on:

Different aspects of up-to-date epidemiology of parasite infections in European Union; Different issues in parasite ecology; Transmission routes for the most common human parasites.

Abilities: Student shall be able to estimate and compare basic epidemiological parameters; Shall be able to collect, process and identify different types of environmental samples/ parasite stages. Shall be able to analyze and present the results of own scientific projects on parasite ecology.

K_W05BI1, K_W06BI1, K_W07BI1, K_W09BI1, K_W01BI2, K_W02BI2

Attitudes:

1. Student understands up-to-date problems of parasite epidemiology and ecology.

2. Student apply apropiate detection and analytical methods for environmental studies.

K_U09BI1, K_U06BI2, K_U08BI1, K_U12BI2, K_U01BI1, K_U01BI2,

K_K01BI1, K_K01BI2, K_K03BI1, K_K01BI2, K_K04BI2, K_K11BI2, K_K08BI1, K_K10BI2.

Assessment criteria: participation in laboratory and field (min. 30 hours of field work) practicals constitutes the basis for overall assessment as during field studies the material for own scientific project is collected. Assessment is based on the performance and presentation of own scientific project. This project is performed by the team of 2-3 students, presented as a poster and/or scientific raport (80% contribution to final mark), additionaly the short exam is performed during poster session for each individual student (20% contribution to final mark) concering the problems recognized during parcticals and lecture.

Overall assessment of lecture program - oral exam during poster session or written exam (test).

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