Veterinary Parasitology I

Code: MVT15233I

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Veterinary Medicine

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

2. Erradicar a fome - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

3. Saúde de qualidade - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

4. Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

12. Produção e consumo sustentáveis - Assegurar padrões de produção e de consumo sustentáveis.

15. Proteger a vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

To transmit the knowledge of the importance of parasites, their life cycle, and about their survival strategies that translates into the ability to adapt and acquire resistance. To make known the helminth concept and its importance, concerning the morphobiology, and eco-epidemiology of the most common helminths of the Nematoda, Cestoda, Trematoda and Acantocephala Classes, in their dynamics with domestic and non-domestic animals and humans. To understand these relationships from the perspective of the parasite (helminth), as an etiological basis of the processes required for the UC Parasitic Diseases and other scientific sub-areas of Animal and Public Health, Food Safety Production. To develop skills for understanding and implementing laboratory techniques, as well as other helminthological in vivo and ex vivo diagnostic tools. To develop skills for interpreting the results obtained.

Theoretical: The phenomenon of parasitism - definition of parasite, specificity of parasites and their relationship with hosts, types of parasitism, biological cycles, types of host, modes of infection, exit and dissemination of parasites, reactions of the host organism towards the parasite, parasite adaptation, survival strategies of parasite populations.
Taxonomy and Systematic Rules.
Introduction to Helminthology. Study in the specialty of parasites representing Families of the Nematoda, Trematoda, Cestoda and Acantocephala Classes, with importance in Veterinary Medicine and Public Health.
Practice: Laboratory diagnosis - Collection, conservation, and transport methods and laboratory processing of blood, faeces and environment samples to identify parasite forms. Microscopic identification of adult helminth specimens. Partial or total parasitological necropsies. Relationships between laboratorial and clinic diagnostic approaches.

Teaching Methods

Teaching includes both a theoretical and a practical component.

Theoretical component: Structured lectures supported by audiovisual materials to facilitate the understanding of parasite life cycles, morphobiology, and ecoepidemiology. Encouragement of critical thinking in understanding parasite biology and parasite?host interactions.

Practical component: Microscopic identification of specimens representing genera and species of major importance in Veterinary Medicine. Introduction to diagnostic methods and laboratory training through sample collection, the performance of in vivo and ex vivo diagnostic techniques, and the interpretation of results.

Assessment

Theoretical Component ? Two written examinations of equal weighting, taken during the teaching period, or, alternatively, a final examination. To successfully complete the theoretical component, a minimum grade of 9.5/20 must be obtained in each of the written examinations or in the final examination.

Practical Component ? Final laboratory examination comprising the identification of two parasitic specimens and the performance of a diagnostic technique, followed by the interpretation of the results.

The final grade is calculated as the weighted average of the practical component (50%) and the theoretical component (50%).

In accordance with Order No. 216/2026, if deemed necessary to assess the extent to which the student has acquired the knowledge and competencies established for the course unit, the teaching team may require the student to take an oral examination, pursuant to paragraph 13 of Article 110 of the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora, while ensuring the conditions set out in paragraph 4 of Article 116 and paragraph 1 of Article 118 of the same Regulations. This oral examination will account for 50% of the final grade for the course unit, corresponding to the theoretical component, since the practical component is assessed through an oral examination.