Høst 2024

BIO-3519 Parasites and epidemiology - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for arktisk og marin biologi

Type of course

Master course for biology- and aquamedicine students.

Course overlap

FH-203 Parasitology/epidemiology 10 ects

Course contents

The course gives an overview of parasitic animals (protozoan and multi-cellular animals) with a focus on their biology, ecology, strategies for transmission (life-cycles) and potential pathogenic effects on their hosts. The examples are given primarily from aquatic host-parasite systems, and the most common parasites of humans. Additionally, the course gives a basic introduction to epidemiology, immunology and ecological interactions between parasites and their different hosts.

Objective of the course

Knowledge

to understand the term parasitism as one out of several symbiotic relationships between animals and to define types of life cycles and categories of hosts
basic knowledge of the biology and ecology of parasitic animals (protozoan and multi-cellular animals) with a focus on form, function, life cycles, transmission and their role in the ecosystem
detailed knowledge of the most common parasites in fish and other aquatic animals in both freshwater and marine environment and their potential pathogen effects on hosts
know the basics within epidemiology/ecological parasitology such as terms related to populations, statistic parameters, distribution patterns, rates of transmission, and regulation of host/parasite populations

Skills:

Know how to dissect fish and invertebrate hosts with different techniques for identification of parasite taxa and counting/estimating the number of parasites
Be able to report (written and oral presentations) the occurrence and impact of parasites within a host population and provide critical interpretations using appropriate epidemiological terms and statistics.

General competence

know the IMRAD-system for science publishing and through this convey own data and interpretation of results (via a poster presentation)
know how to use scientific publications as background for aims or hypotheses in practical studies
communicate how parasites can be problematic for wild and farmed animals, and humans, and how parasites can regulate ecological communities.

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

Lectures: 24 hours, lab work: 6 hours (mandatory), field- and lab work: 3 days (mandatory), seminar 24 hours (mandatory).