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Course, academic year 2023/2024
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Introduction to Parasitology - MB160P70
Title: Základy parazitologie
Czech title: Základy parazitologie
Guaranteed by: Department of Parasitology (31-161)
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Actual: from 2021
Semester: winter
E-Credits: 4
Examination process: winter s.:combined
Hours per week, examination: winter s.:3/0, Ex [HT]
Capacity: unlimited
Min. number of students: unlimited
4EU+: no
Virtual mobility / capacity: no
State of the course: taught
Language: Czech
Note: enabled for web enrollment
Guarantor: doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D.
Teacher(s): doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D.
Incompatibility : MB160P25
Is complex co-requisite for: MB160C25
Annotation -
Last update: doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D. (23.10.2019)
It is recommended to complete this course in the first or second year of bachelor study; however this course is also suitable for other students (including the follow-up master study).
The subject acquaints with parasitism from the point of view of human and veterinary medicine as well as from the ecological (parasitism as a biological phenomenon) and zoological (biological) point of view.
Emphasis is placed on the basic life cycles and strategies of parasites, including the relationship between the parasite and the host. In the systematic part, the most important parasites of humans and farm animals are discussed; in detail the subject deals with the most important parasites of humans in the world and in the Czech Republic. The systematic part is divided into (i) Parasitic helminths (Flukes, Tapeworms, and Monogeneans), (ii) Parasitic protozoa and (iii) Arthropods as blood-feeders and disease vectors. In addition to these groups, attention is also paid to parasitoids, parasitic plants and parasitic fungi, phytopathogens, as well as brood/nesting or social parasitism. Emphasis is also placed on emerging parasitic diseases of animals and plants in the Czech Republic and abroad.
Literature -
Last update: doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D. (01.10.2022)

Paraziti a jejich biologie. Volf, Horák a kol. 2007, Triton Praha-Kroměříž 
Parazitismus. Votýpka, Varga 2003, IDM (http://www.biologickaolympiada.cz/ - Soutěž - Studijní materiály) 

O parazitech a lidech. Votýpka, Kolářová, Horák a kol., 2018, Triton Praha
Vládce parazit. Zimmer 2005, Paseka
Speciální mikrobiologie a parazitologie. Bednář, Souček, Vávra 1994, Triton Praha

MOODLE: https://dl3.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=149

Requirements to the exam -
Last update: doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D. (01.10.2022)

The exam includes: (i) multiple-choice questions, (ii) verbal answers and/or addition of word(s), (iii) questions based on the projection of images. (45 minutes + about 10 minutes for the projected image documentation). The test is designed to contain as many questions as possible covering different parts of the subject; in this way the general overview and orientation in the relevant subject matter is verified. However, due to the large number of questions from different areas and the limited time to complete the test, the evaluation itself is very benevolent: only 40% of the total score is sufficient to pass.

Syllabus -
Last update: doc. RNDr. Jan Votýpka, Ph.D. (26.10.2019)

Recommended course for admission to the follow-up master study of parasitology. For students applying in this field it is advisable to complete the first or second year of bachelor study.

 

The lecture defines the term parasitism, deals with parasites important for human and veterinary medicine (parasitic protozoa, worms/helminths and arthropods) and other types of parasites and parasite-like organisms (parasitoids, epibiones, forons, etc.). The course represents parasitism as a biological phenomenon encountered at all stages of the organization of living matter; gives an overview of the biology, distribution, life cycles of parasites and the ways of parasite transmission and basic survival strategies in the host. The course mentions basic information about infectious biology and epidemiology, symptomatics and pathogenesis of parasitic infections, possibilities of therapy and prevention. Part of the course is devoted to transmission of infectious diseases by blood-feeding arthropods including factors affecting parasite-vector-host interactions. The course also explains the basic principle of the circulation of various pathogens in nature and their danger to humans. Emphasis is also placed on emerging diseases, both at home (the Czech Republic) and abroad, and on the zoonotic potential of many pathogens. The aim is also to describe the practical aspects of the occurrence of parasites in humans and pets or livestock.

 

Systematic part – an overview of presented parasites:

Platyhelminthes: Fluke: Schistosoma spp., Cercaria dermatitis, liver, pulmonary and intestinal infections by fluke.

Monogenea.

Tapeworms of the genus Diphyllobothrium, Hymenolepis, Taenia, Echinococcus.

Nematoda: Strongyloides stercoralis, Strongylidae, Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides and Toxocara, Dracunculus medinensis, Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus and Trichuris.

Acanthocephala

Annelida (leeches): Hirudo medicinalis et al.

Protozoa: Trypanosomes - T. brucei and T. cruzi, leishmanias, Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica, free-living amoebae (Naegleria, Acantamoeba) causing accidental infections. Coccidia (Eimeria, Isospora, Toxoplasma), Plasmodium – causative agents of human malaria, babesia. Parasitic ciliates (Ciliata).

Microsporidia.

Myxosporea.

Opportunistic infections in immunodefective persons including Pneumocystis carinii.

Arthropoda: soft ticks (Argasidae), hard ticks (Ixodidae), Sarcoptes scabiei, Neotrombicula autumnalis, Demodex mites, allergic mites,

Insects

Lice (Anoplura), bugs (Cimex lectularius, Triatominae), fleas (Aphaniptera)

Diptera fly: family Culicidae, Psychodidae, Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, Tabanidae, Stomoxyidae, Glossinidae, Hippoboscidae.

Ditera fly causing myiasis (Oestridae, Cuterebridae, Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae).

Parazitoidi.

Fungal diseases.

Plants like parasites.

Plants as hosts: phytonematodes, oomycetes, gall parasites.

Breeding and social parasites: birds, ants and bees.

 
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