Clinical Parasitology

Recommended Prerequisites

Biochemistry, Physiopathology, Immunology, Molecular and Cellular  Biology, Microbiology, Portuguese, English.

Teaching Methods

The teaching of the curricular unit includes lectures and laboratory classes. The lectures are often not required and are based on the classical model of knowledge transmission, electronic presentations supported with illustrative of the syllabus. The laboratory classes are compulsory and accompanying the content taught in the lectures and involves the application of appropriate methodologies to parasitological diagnosis of different biological specimens, presentation of results and discussion.

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to give the student skills in the field of clinical parasitology. It is intended that student:

- Gain knowledge about basic concepts of clinical parasitology;

- Acquire knowledge in the classification of major groups of parasites of medical importance: protozoa, helminths and arthropods;

- Acquire knowledge to select the areas in the word in which parasitic infections are endemic and the factors that contribute to their occurrence;

- Describe the main factors that account for the increased prevalence of parasites in non-endemic areas of the world;

- Describe the life cycle of each parasite and their implication on the ways of transmission and dissemination;

- Gain knowledge about the importance of emergent and opportunistic parasitic diseases;

- Discuss the clinically significant disease processes associated with each of the pathogenic parasites;

-  Apply the theoretical knowledge in laboratory classes;

- Develop critical capacity

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Clinical Parasitology and globalization. 2. Pathogenesis of parasitic diseases. 3. Immunology of parasitic diseases: immune response to parasites, mechanisms of immune evasion and immunopathology.

4. Parasitic diseases and anaemia and eosinophilia. 5. Parasitic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: amebiasis, giardiasis, balantidiasis, isosporiasis, cryptosporidiasis cyclosporiasis, ascariasis, enterobiasis, trichuriasis, hookworm, taeniosis, anisakiasis, tapeworm disease. 6. Parasitic diseases of the blood and tissue:  leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, trichomoniasis, amebiasis, malaria, babesiosis, toxoplasmosis, filariasis, loiasis, onchocerciasis, paragonimiasis, schistosomiasis, microsporidiasis, trichinosis, larva migrans, hydatidosis, cysticercosis, fascioliasis. 7. Laboratory diagnosis of parasitic diseases: general considerations; life cycle of parasites as auxiliary in laboratory diagnosis; coprology, sampling and laboratory techniques; direct methods of diagnosis.

Head Lecturer(s)

Gabriela Conceição Duarte Jorge Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 25.0%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

• Rey  “Bases da Parasitologia Médica” 2013, Editora Guanabara Koogan S.A.

• Markell & Voge “Parasitologia Médica” 2003, 8ª ed., Editora Guanabara Koogan S.A.

• Zeibig, A. E. 1997 “Clinical Parasitology. A Pratical Approach” W. B. Saunders Company.

• Murray, P. R., Rosenthal, K. S and M. A. Pfaller, “Medical Microbiology” 2009 Elsevier Mosby.

•  Male, D., Brostoff, J., Roth, D. B. and I. Roitt “Immunology” 2006, 7ª ed. Elsevier Mosby.

 Endereços da Web:

•  htpp://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/

•  htpp://www.who.int/es/índex.html

•  htpp://www.who.int/tdr/

•  htpp://www.cdfound.to.it/

•  htpp://www.parasitology.org.uk, 2006.