BIO 327 –General Parasitology COURSE PARTICULARS COURSE

BIO 327 –General Parasitology COURSE PARTICULARS

Course Code: BIO 327 Course Title: General Parasitology No. of Units: 2 Course Duration: Two hours of theory and three hours of practical per week for 15 weeks. Status: Compulsory Course Email Address: [email protected] Course Webpage: http://www.bio.futa.edu.ng/courseschedule.php?coursecode=BIO%327 Prerequisite: Nil COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Mr. O. J. Afolabi Room 06,2nd Floor, Academic Building, Dept. of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Phone: +2348035959391 Email: [email protected]

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is explanatory and designed primarily for 300level students in biology. It educates the students on animal associations with emphasis on parasitism. It also gives the students foundational knowledge on epidemiology and control of tropical parasitic infections. Topics to be covered include animal associations, the nature of parasitism, the host-parasite relation, concept and the evolution of parasitic mode of life, advantages and disadvantages of parasitism, host specificity and susceptibility, epidemiology and control of common tropical parasitic infections, transmission of parasites from host to host and the role of vectors in the transmission of parasitic diseases.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this course are to:  enable the students to discuss various types of parasites and hosts.  educate the students on the similarities and differences between a parasite and a foetus  explain the relationship between a parasite and the host and the effects of parasites on the hosts to the students.  enhance students understanding of host responses to parasite  give the students detailed classification of medically important parasites.  equip the students with the distinguishing features among cestodes, nematodes and trematodes.  enlighten students on the pathology, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, control and prevention of common parasitic infections.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES / COMPETENCIES

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: (Knowledge based)  describe various animal association and the importance of the association to the organisms especially the host.  state reasons why a foetus is not regarded as a parasite.  give advantages and disadvantages of parasitism.  describe the evolution of parasitism.  use life cycles to describe the pathology and transmission of parasites  understand the importance of parasite and vector control (Skills)

 acquire skills and methods of identifying parasites and insect vectors.  acquire laboratory methods of diagnosing parasitic infection.  operate laboratory equipment such as microscopes, centrifuge, photometer e.t.c.  prepare wet mount and permanent slides of parasites from clinical specimens.

GRADING SYSTEM FOR THE COURSE

This course will be graded as follows: Class Attendance 10% Practical 15% Test(s) 15% Final Examination 60% TOTAL 100%

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Attendance: It is expected that every student will be in class for lectures and also participate in all practical exercises. Attendance records will be kept and used to determine each person’s qualification to sit for the final examination. In case of illness or other unavoidable cause of absence, the student must communicate as soon as possible with any of the instructors, indicating the reason for the absence.

Academic Integrity: Violations of academic integrity, including dishonesty in assignments, examinations, or other academic performances are prohibited. Students are not allowed to make copies of another person’s work and submit it as theirs as this will amount to plagiarism. All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the University Management for appropriate sanctions in accordance with the guidelines for handling students’ misconduct as spelt out in the Students’ Handbook. Practical: Students are expected to submit practical reports as scheduled. Failure to submit report as at when due will earn the student zero mark for that assignment. Only under extenuating circumstances, for which a student has notified any of the instructors in advance, will late submission be permitted.

Code of Conduct in Lecture Rooms and Laboratories: Students should turn off their cell phones during lectures and practicals. Students are prohibited from engaging in other activities (such as texting, watching videos, etc.) during lectures. Food and drinks are not permitted in the laboratories. No student will be allowed into the laboratories without a labcoat, practical book and manual.

READING LIST

1Vigar Zaman and Loh Ah Keong (1989). Handbook of medical parasitology. KC Ang. Publishing Plc Ltd. Singapore.

2Otubanjo, O.A.(2007). Elements of Parasitology. First Edition. Panaf Publishing Inc. Abuja, Nigeria.195p.

1Arora, D.R. and B.B. Arora (2010). Medical Parasitology. Third Edition. CBS Publishing, New Delhi, India..271p.

Legend 1- Available as Personal Collection 2- Available in Departmental/School Libraries

COURSE OUTLINE

Week Topic Remarks 1 & 2 Animal associations During this first class, the students will be introduced to different types of animal association with particular emphasis on parasitism. . Nature of parasitism Examples of parasitism will be given 3 to the students. Interaction between the parasite and the host in terms of benefits and harm will also be discussed during this period.

Host-parasite relation In this topic the responses of host to 4 parasite and the responses of parasites to host immunity will be discussed.

5 Concept and the evolution of parasitic mode of Evolution of parasites will be life discussed extensively with specific examples 6 Advantages and disadvantages of parasitism The importance of parasitic mode of life will be elucidated. Also the effects of parasites on the hosts will also be emphasized.

MID-SEMESTER TEST 7 Host specificity and susceptibility Factors that predisposed host to parasite will be listed and explained during the class.

8-10 Epidemiology and control of parasitic infections In this topic, detailed classification of medically important parasites will be given to the students. Also,

epidemiology and control of parasitic infections with particular emphasis on common tropical infection such as malaria, schistosomiasis, amoebiasis, guinea worm, onchocerciasis e.t.c.

This topic will be discuss using the 11&12 Transmission of parasites from host to host life cycles of the parasites

13 & 14 The role of vectors in the transmission of The importance of vectors such as parasitic infections insects, snails, cyclops e.t.c. will be emphasized in this topic. Also methods of identification of the vector especially the insects will be discussed. 15 Revision This is the week preceding the final examination. At this time, evaluation will be done to assess how far the students’ expectations for the course have been met.